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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 



CHILD OBSERVATIONS 

FIRST SERI ES: 
IMITATION AND ALLIED ACTIVITIES 



Made by the Students, and Published under the Auspices of the 

Graduates' Association, of the State Normal 

School at Worcester, Mass. 



EDITED BY 

MISS ELLEN M. HAS 



WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY E. U. RUSSELL 
PRINCIPAL of the school 



"As if his whole vocation 
Were endless imitation.'" 

Wordsworth 






nm or ij 




BOSTON, U.S.A. 

D. C. HEATH & CO., PUBLISHERS 

1896 



Copyright, 1896, 
By D. C. Heath & Co. 



C. J. Petees & Son, Typogbaphebs, Boston. 



S. J. Pabkhill & Co., Feintees. 



<f- 



0ranbtlle Stanlqj Hall, %?LM. 

THE PIONEER AND CHIEF PROMOTER OF CHILD STUDY 
IN THE UNITED STATES, 

TO WnOSE SUGGESTION THE SIMPLE METHOD SINCE 

PURSUED IN THIS SCHOOL OWES ITS ORIGIN, 

THE FOLLOWING INSTALMENT 

OF OUR RECORDS 

IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED. 



PREFATORY NOTE. 



When the work of this school in child study (a new thing 
then) began to be somewhat widely known, some eight or ten 
years ago, requests came in from many quarters for informa- 
tion, and particularly for the publication of our records. Sev- 
eral short articles were printed, mostly in the Pedagogical 
Seminary, embodying some of our material, which have been 
in such steady demand as to lead to the further venture of 
issuing the present volume. 

The necessary funds to do this were provided by the 
prompt and generous action of the Graduates' Association 
of the school, which, as soon as the need was made known, 
raised by voluntary subscription among its members a sum 
more than sufficient for the purpose, and at the same time 
intimated its readiness to bear the expense of further issues 
if such should be called for. The book is therefore theirs in 
a double sense : many of them had contributed, as students, 
observations of their own, and as a body of graduates they 
have willingly taxed their not too ample means to insure its 
publication. 

A second volume, on Knowledge as Gained Through Asso- 
ciation, is in advanced preparation, and if the demand should 
appear to warrant it, will be forthcoming next year. There is 
no wish, however, to anticipate or stimulate the popular desire 
for these contributions. The study is part of our regular 
work, and is strictly voluntary on the part of all our students. 
But it is found so interesting and so immediately rewarding 
to those who engage in it as to have become the most nearly 



VI PREFATORY NOTE. 

self-sustaining exercise of the school. The facts gathered, 
when once recorded, are regarded as a by-product of the pro- 
cess of observation. If they have any value for other stu- 
dents, that is so much clear gain ; if not, they have already 
done good service for those who made them. 

The sympathy and encouragement of our entire staff of 
instructors deserve grateful acknowledgment, particularly the 
active aid rendered by Mr. H. W. Brown, Dr. T. L. Bolton, 
Miss H. F. Marsh, and the editorial labor of Miss E. M. Has- 
kell, to all of whom our best thanks are due. We also desire 
to record our warm appreciation of the valuable counsel and 
assistance freely given to the undertaking by Hon. E. B. 
Stoddard, chairman of our State Board of Visitors. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The main object in making and recording the observa- 
tions that constitute the present volume has been to put our 
students, who are preparing to be teachers, en rapport with 
children. The records make no scientific pretensions what- 
ever. They are printed in response to many requests, and 
with the hope of awakening or quickening interest in children 
simply as children, not as pupils or as "material" for psy- 
chological or anthropological study. It is hoped, by the 
irresistible attractiveness there is in these little narratives, to 
beguile the sympathetic reader into bathing and saturating 
his mind with them, so that he may come to realize as never 
before what a world of imitation even ordinary children live 
in, and may never after be able to look with the common indif- 
ference upon this most significant and charming phase of 
child life. 

The records under the single rubric here presented are 
only a small part — not more than a twentieth — of the mis- 
cellaneous observations of children that have been carried on 
by the students of the Normal School at Worcester, in the 
intervals of their regular work, during the past ten or twelve 
years. Taken as a whole, these observations cover a very 
wide range, not having been restricted or directed to particu- 
lar traits or problems of childhood ; the aim being, as just 
stated, not a scientific study of children, in the interest of 
psychology, but an attempt to bring our future teachers into 
closer and more sj^mpathetic relations with them as individ- 
uals. In this respect the undertaking has proved highly sue- 



viii INTRODUCTION. 

cessful, and it pretends to nothing more. Incidentally, many 
facts have been brought to light that may or may not be 
found serviceable to those who are making a more systematic 
and exhaustive study of childhood from the standpoint and 
by the stricter methods of scientific research. Tliat is a 
matter which does not much concern the purpose we have had 
in view. The field of child study is a very broad one, and 
may be profitably entered upon by many workers with dif- 
ferent equipment and divers objects of pursuit. There is 
room for all, and all may act in harmony and with mutual 
helpfulness. Wholly new discoveries in the domain of child 
nature are scarcely to be looked for ; but rather a more care- 
ful exploration, fresh points of view, better insight, juster 
emphasis, something like a new reading of an old and familiar 
book. Our own observers have been especially encouraged to 
seek for the naive and spontaneous activities of children, 
rather than for what is exceptional or responsive to sugges- 
tions from parents and teachers. The conditions most favor- 
able for this kind of observation are perfect freedom and 
unconstraint on the part of the child, and, if possible, com- 
plete unconsciousness of being the object of special interest 
or attention. This, of course, requires much tact and self- 
effacement in the observer ; but I think the following pages 
will show that such tact has not been wanting. 

Those who may desire to know the details of our method 
of procedure, beyond what may be inferred from the records 
themselves, will find them more fully described in an article 
by the present writer published in the Pedagogical Seminary 
(Clark University), vol. ii., no. 3, p. 343. 

It may be remarked that nothing is claimed for the method 
but its extreme simplicity and its adaptability to the capacity 
and opportunities of our somewhat youthful observers. It is 
as open as a bird's nest, and does not aim in the least to dis- 
place or discredit any other. Any particular "method" of 



INTRODUCTION. IX 

studying children is, in fact, a matter of slight consequence ; 
the facts are what we want, and the surest and most con- 
venient way of getting them, in any given circumstances, is 
the best method. Nor need there be any fear that the facts, 
once ascertained, will fail to arrange themselves and suggest 
their own due bearing .and weight in any generalizations that 
may follow. 

ii. 

A further word of explanation may not be out of place 
at this point, especially as the scope and character of our 
work have been, to some extent, misunderstood and misstated. 
We have been criticized for not accomplishing what we have 
never attempted. There are plenty of desirable things that 
these studies of children are not, but there are some things 
that they are, or aim to be ; and it is in this light that 
I should be glad to have them judged. I will therefore 
attempt to explain a little more explicitly our point of view, 
and the nature of the work we have chosen to undertake, — 
what we have essayed to do, and what we have endeavored 
to avoid, — with some of the reasons therefor. 

It has seemed to me of prime importance to keep the 
motives and direction of this study of children right end fore- 
most ; that is, not to forget that we want to know children in 
order to enter into fuller sympathy with them, not to let the 
knowing, however scientific, stand as the sole end in view — 
save in the case of a very small number of devotees of 
science for its own sake, and even here I should be very 
particular about requiring such to show their credentials. I 
deem it better not to urge young teachers to assume the scien- 
tific role, to think that nothing short of this or other than 
this is of any dignity or avail. The disposition to theorize, 
however becoming in mature minds of genuine scientific build 
and training, is hardly to be encouraged in the generality, 
who may yet do good service as observers of phenomena. It 



x INTR OB UCT10N. 

is hazardous to issue a paper currency of theories in excess 
of the gold and silver of facts that should always be held 
in reserve to redeem such currency on demand. And I will 
say that if it comes to a division of the assets of any science, 
especially in its earlier stages, give me the facts, few or 
many, for my share, and you are welcome to the theories. 
By this choice I shall sacrifice something of value, no doubt, 
but I shall cheerfully take the chances of gaining more than 
I lose. I therefore hold strongly to the humane side in this 
study, and that quite as much for its "results" as for the 
spirit it fosters. The outcome of such observations, as com- 
pared with the abstractions of science, is apt to be easier of 
assimilation, requiring less working over and elaboration to 
become available for practical use in the art of nurture and 
teaching. A genuine love of nature and insight into her 
ways may be nourished by walks in the fields and woods, 
after the fashion of Thoreau and Burroughs, as well as by 
focusing one's attention upon special problems in the labora- 
tory ; and it is not otherwise with the study of children. It 
is not unprofitable or ignoble to " love the wood-rose and 
leave it on its stalk." There is an inconsistency, somewhat 
irritating to the candid mind, in the attitude of those who 
cast contempt upon the facts which " unscientific " observa- 
tion furnishes, and then, in their need, beg for these same 
facts at the hands of parents and others whom they have so 
loftily and sweepingly disqualified. As if "science" were 
surrounded by some hard-and-fast line of circumvallation, and 
had a baptism and a lay ing-on-of -hands of its own of such 
potency as to change human nature and confer infallibility 
upon those of its communion, throwing all possibility of bias 
and error on such as stand outside the walls ! 

Men like Darwin and Huxley were above such arrogance. 
They did not affect to disdain the help of faithful and vera- 
cious observers of such phenomena as come within the range 



INTRO D UCTION. X i 

of ordinary intelligence. " No line can be drawn," says 
Huxley, " between common knowledge of things and scientific 
knowledge, nor between common reasoning and scientific rea- 
soning ; " and later, " The way to science, then, lies through 
common knowledge." (" Introductory Science Primer," pp. 
16, 19.) The observations recorded in this little book, I 
repeat, make not the least pretension to be science ; but this 
avowal is not to be taken as an admission that they are val- 
ueless or without legitimate interest, or that the aim and pur- 
pose with which they were made are trivial or mistaken. On 
the contrary, it is maintained that the spirit engendered by 
this modest work is a wholly salutary and praiseworthy spirit, 
and that the results obtained are substantial and relevant, and 
are well worth the pains they have cost. 



It has been objected that the value of these contributions 
is vitiated by their fragmentary and detached character ; and 
it has been suggested how vastly more conclusive and satisfac- 
tory they would be if accompanied by such particulars of time, 
place, and circumstance as would give them an ampler back- 
ground and perspective. Perhaps so. But we encounter two 
main difficulties here. First, the ancestry, environment, and 
personal history of any child, in such degree of minuteness 
and accuracy as could be of real service, are matters by no 
means easy to come at. And again, if such details were put 
before us, it would be found exceedingly difficult to trace their 
influence upon the case in hand. The river of childhood does 
indeed run by our very doors, but the springs that feed it are 
mostly beyond our horizon. We cannot begin at its sources, 
because we do not yet know them. They are precisely what 
we are trying to discover ; and our only way is to note in 
which direction the current flows, and then follow it upward 
as best we can. In such a study as this a vast body of facts 



xil INTRODUCTION. 

must be accumulated before their connections and dependen- 
cies can be made apparent ; and these facts will often be like 
the arrow-points and potsherds which the archaeologist treas- 
ures up, until at length by their variety and numbers they 
flash into relations and unities which singly they could give 
no hint of. All work in inductive science must be superficial 
before it can be deep. "We can never take the second step 
first. But further than this, it is not clear that, in the great 
majority of cases, a given childish act would receive much, if 
any, illumination from such particulars of the child's sur- 
roundings as would be accessible to an ordinary observer ; for 
example, the age, nationality, and occupation of parents and 
grandparents, number and ages of brothers and sisters, out- 
line sketches of nurses, playmates, and other companions, 
social and pecuniary status of the family, location of the 
home, personal history of the child from birth, etc. In chil- 
dren presenting marked abnormal peculiarities (not more than 
one or two per cent of the whole), such facts might indeed 
have important significance to a medical man ; bnt that would 
mean a wholly different kind of investigation, and one obvi- 
ously not within the purview of the present study. The influ- 
ence of heredity and environment, especially the former, is 
by no means as yet so fully made out and understood, even 
by specialists, that its application as a factor in every case 
can be readily perceived and made serviceable. If any 
reader will take the trouble to look at a dozen of the records 
that follow, taken at random, and then ask himself the ques- 
tion just how and in what respects they would be rendered 
clearer and more conclusive by any use he could make of such 
personal details as have been enumerated, I should be glad to 
hear his answer. No one doubts, in general, that such facts 
do have some bearing on each particular case ; but it is quite 
another matter to say definitely what that bearing is, and how 
it is to be traced and its connections shown. I suspect that 



INTRODUCTION. Xlll 

the state of our knowledge is not sufficiently advanced for 
this, and will not be for a long time to come. Nor has the 
thing been attempted, except in a very loose and sketchy way, 
even by those who have given us the most minute and sys- 
tematic accounts of individual children, — as Preyer, Darwin, 
Tiedemann, Miss Shinn, or any other, so far as I am aware ; 
least of all, perhaps, by Professor Sully, in his "Extracts 
from a Father's Diary," who j*et deplores its absence from the 
"Worcester records, — of which, nevertheless, he does not fail 
to make good use in his latest volume. It seems, therefore, 
a superficial, if not captious, demand to ask that these records 
of ours should be loaded with a marginal accompaniment of 
facts (even if they could be had) that nobody has hitherto 
found it feasible or thought it w^orth while to give, and which, 
if furnished, could not be to any useful extent interpreted or 
applied. To hold a child, " root and all," in your hand, to 
transplant to your note-book even its smallest act with all the 
rootlets and soil, racial and individual, adhering intact, is a 
feat of far greater difficulty and delicacy than is implied by 
the easy remark that we " ought to have more " of the circum- 
stances, associations, etc., in order to form a satisfactory judg- 
ment. I think we need to know much more of what there is 
in children, before we are ready to attack the questions, how 
much there is, and hoto it came there. 

IV. 

There exists in this study of children a dangerous ten- 
dency to seek overmuch and prematurely the formulation of 
generalizations and principles. This is peculiarly unfortunate 
as coming just at the stage when diversity reveals itself, and 
begins to loom up as so large an element in our subject-mat- 
ter. The study has already reached a phase of encouraging 
expansion, and new vistas are opening in many directions. 
Physiologists, psychologists, and anthropologists are taking it 



xiv INTRODUCTION. 

up, and there is promise of advance all along the line. How 
untimely, then, this instant demand for " results " to be used 
in the narrow interest of mere schoolroom " pedagogy." The 
domain of child nature is far too broad to be thus pre-empted 
and colonized before it has been half explored. Rather let 
the surveying parties increase their force, and go on with 
their work. It is much too early to expect a general map of 
the country, though I am not without fear that such will 
soon be in the popular market. 

An earnest coworker and friendly critic has said of our 
observations, in effect, that their value will depend on whether 
we are able to reduce them to a common denominator. Of 
course, our friend can hardly mean that facts are of value in 
proportion to the ease with which they can be harmonized 
and summed up into units of a system or doctrine, and that 
such as resist this simplifying manipulation are of no avail. 
Yet the phrase, though probably not so intended, carries some 
savor of concession to a certain pedagogic anxiety to save 
time and labor by making children as much alike as possible, 
a tendency, it seems to me, that child study ought by all 
means to resist. If the fact of variability and individuality 
in children is one that more and more emerges as we study 
their natures, why suppress or deplore it ? Child study is 
not to be summoned to answer for itself at the bar of peda- 
gogy, any more than geology is bound to justify the " science " 
of the Book of Genesis. On the contrary, it is for pedagogy 
to adjust and readjust its aims and methods to whatever 
child study clearly and indubitably reveals as true, " common 
denominator " or not. Possibly it is precisely the irreducible 
individuality of children that will turn out to be our most 
valuable discovery. Perhaps the educator may find, through 
closer study of children, a new meaning and a new hint for 
his art in the weighty words of Froude : " With man, so far 
as he is an object of interest, it is the type which is nothing, 



INTRODUCTION. XV 

and the individual which is everything. . . . The immortal 
part of a man is not that which he shares with the rest of 
his race, but that which he possesses of his own. The rela- 
tive importance of the general and particular is with man in 
the inverse ratio to the rest of nature. In poetry, in art, 
in religion, in action and life, the interest centres always 
on persons and personal character." (Educational Review, 
Feburary, 1893, p. 168.) 

To the same effect an intelligent parent (a university 
professor) writes thus in a private letter : " I find that I am 
unable to make any observations upon my own children which 
I regard as of any special value in formulating a theory of 
pedagogy or anything else. In fact, what I learn one day they 
contradict the next, and what I conclude from my observations 
on one is apparently disproved by the other." All this is to 
my mind of good omen for the future of our study. It re- 
veals the presence of deeper laws and orbits of wider sweep 
than we have yet discovered, and it should set the student on 
tiptoe with his eyes strained towards the horizon. What we 
need is more of the spirit of Darwin, of whom his son writes, 
" He had a special instinct for arresting an exception." 



The thing that has struck me most forcibly in my de- 
lighted perusal of these records is the spirited way in which 
the imitative acts of children are carried on, — the unflag- 
ging repetitions of the same simple things, and the ready 
support and transfiguration that fancy lends to barren details 
and materials, creating from moment to moment fresh in- 
terest and variety. It has seemed as if I were privileged 
to stand at the fountain-head of life, and see its waters bub- 
ble forth from exhaustless hidden depths as by perpetual 
miracle. 

Next to this buoyancy of spirit, as a source of interest, 



Xvi INTRODUCTION. 

comes, perhaps, the surprising accuracy of children's earliest 
imitations. How unerringly the little actors seize upon the 
very " pith and marrow " of much that goes on in the new 
world around them, and with what a sure and even artistic 
touch they often reproduce it and give it the right emphasis 
in their play. The abounding fancy which they display is 
not fancy merely, but is at the same time well anchored to 
truth, and shows a grasp of the act imitated, in its essence and 
meaning, that is remarkable in being so much beyond the 
child's power of description and speech at that age. (See, 
among scores of examples, Ted's essay in " Photography," 
No. 411, p. 69.) There is thus a language of things and 
events that speaks to the child, and is understood by him, and 
intelligently responded to by his imitative acts, long before he 
is able to comprehend and use conventional speech. Here 
is an avenue and vehicle of acquisition and expression that 
antedate even the mother-tongue. And this fact, by the 
way, suggests the question whether our school-teaching does 
not too soon turn away from this natural and universal lan- 
guage, in which the child shows himself such an adept, and 
unwisely attempt to replace it with arbitrary and artificial 
word-signs, a later and more complex acquirement, both in 
the race and the individual, and one for which the infant's 
powers are not yet ripe ? Whether there is not at this age a 
considerable tract of time wherein, by a simple method of 
example and imitation, and mostly in silence, a child might be 
taught many things more effectively, with less strain and 
confusion of mind, than under conditions which involve the 
usual accompaniment of pedagogical verbiage ? In a word, 
since children are on the alert for things to do, months and 
years before they have any ear for wordy explanations, could 
not their first teachers borrow with advantage something 
from the art of those who instruct the deaf ? 

Again, the expansive and progressive character of play 



INTEODUCTIOJST. XVU 

from year to year is noticeable and suggestive. It begins 
impulsively Avith salient and detached acts, — ■ 

" Some fragment from his dream of human life," 

and only by slow accretions comes to embrace accessories and 
relations. Thus the observer is often able to seize and record, 
in the simplest imitative effort, practically its whole scope 
and meaning. There is no motive but impulse, and there are 
no traceable connections ; the curtain falls and the scene is 
at an end. Then — 

" The little actor cons another part," 

which in its turn may be similarly recorded. So it happens 
that these records, by what at first seems their too fragmen- 
tary and disconnected form, really afford a true representa- 
tion of a pronounced trait of early childhood, namely, the 
jerky, staccato movement of its activities. The development 
of a child's intelligence, like the ossification of its bones, 
appears to begin at isolated points, and to spread gradually 
until contact and continuity are slowly established. This pro- 
cess of expansion is luminously, though too briefly, touched 
upon by my colleague, Miss Haskell, in her monograph on 
this subject. (Pedagogical Seminary, vol. iii., no. 1.) She 
says (p. 34), "In the period between three and six, not 
attempting to be precise, however, most children add greatly 
to their experience by becoming in larger measure their own 
care-takers. They play with other children in the street, and 
with them, as well as with their parents and older brothers 
and sisters, make longer excursions and visit more places of 
interest. The intellect has also developed, and makes more 
complex concepts possible. One feels slightly, too, that the 
discipline of repression has begun to work, that there is a 
slight loss of naivete and a slight presence of self-conscious- 
ness. The prison-house begins already, if not to close upon 
the growing boy, to cast its shadow towards him. Something 



x Vlll INTE OB VCTION. 

of motive or purpose may sometimes be discerned perhaps, 
and a growing shyness which leads the actor to become him- 
self if he is observed, or to practise his dramas in secret. 
This is more marked later still." 

Again (p. 36), " As children approach the tenth year the 
added experience and increased intellectual power become more 
apparent in the elaboration of imitative acts. The social ele- 
ment appears, and a need of accessories and properties." 

This feature the interested reader will prefer to follow 
out for himself in the abundant store of material that is 
awaiting his study. 

I do not propose to offer any strictly psychologic explana- 
tion or theory of the phenomena of imitative play taken as a 
whole. In fact, I doubt whether the bearing of such phe- 
nomena is not more in the direction of anthropology than of 
psychology proper, but I shall not undertake to settle or dis- 
cuss that question. A cursory glance over the field is all 
that will be attempted, with perhaps an occasional comment 
by way of elucidation or emphasis. 

VI. 

The most conspicuous endowment of healthy infancy, as 
revealed to ordinary observation, is the instinct of spontaneous 
activity : first, of the muscles, then of the senses, and finally 
of the opening intelligence. These, however, soon blend and 
become practically inseparable. There is, of course, under- 
lying all, the great nutritive function, the soil that supports 
all activity and growth, which we must leave to the physiol- 
ogist. We are concerned here only with the way in which 
the child, beginning in utter helplessness and ignorance, man- 
ages to attack and lay hold of the vast complex of civilized 
life into which he has been born. Cast upon the shore of 
being by the tide of time, our little Crusoe must make shift 
to live, must learn to ally himself with the stern forces of 



INTRODUCTION. x i x 

this world, and with his small might, backed by immense 
ingenuity, must win a place of security and comfort in the 
midst of difficulties and dangers. For man, the " paragon 
of animals," the heir of unquestioned kingship, does not 
come to his crown of supremacy without a struggle. It is 
written that he is "born like the wild ass's colt;" but this 
overstates the fact in his favor, for the wild ass's colt is 
greatly his superior at birth. The human infant is in truth 
much more on a par with the lowly marsupials, the kangaroo 
and opossum, and requires for a longer period even than they 
the maternal contact, the warmth and shelter of the mother's 
arms. And not only does man thus begin life at the very 
bottom of the ladder, but he " crawls to maturity " at a 
slower pace by far than any of the animal species. Long 
before he reaches manhood most of the brute contemporaries 
and playmates of his infant years will have had their day, 
and declined into decrepitude or died of old age. 

There could scarcely be named a difference between man 
and animals so marked and fundamental, so far-reaching in 
its implications and consequences, as this disparity in the 
length of their period of infancy. In animals that stand 
lowest in the scale, the amoeba, for example, there seems to 
be no state of immaturity whatever; the difference between 
parent and offspring vanishes altogether. Beginning thus at 
zero, infancy lengthens as we ascend, keeping a tolerably 
even step with the growing complexity of the adult forms, 
until we reach the anthropoid apes, the highest of all, whose 
young develop the most slowly of any animal, and remain 
longest under the immediate care and protection of their 
parents. This is the economy of nature. Creatures of simple 
structure and small intelligence, whose art of life is of neces- 
sity narrow and instinctive, quickly learn their little trade, 
and are ready to set up for themselves. Time would obvi- 
ously be wasted on their education. The differences between 



XX INTE 01) UCTION. 

the young and the mature are slight and easily surmounted. 
But with man the case is far otherwise, though there are 
gradations even here. Savage races show the shortest infan- 
tile period ; and even in highly civilized communities a ten- 
dency is observable in the lower classes to cut short the 
childhood of their offspring by putting them early to work, 
thereby stunting their growth, and confirming and perpetuat- 
ing their inferiority. It is only the most enlightened parents 
who have the wisdom and foresight to secure for their children, 
at any cost or sacrifice, the utmost length and breadth of 
this precious springtime of life. For the meaning of the 
long period of human infancy is, that it affords opportunity 
to turn and turn again, in play or re very, the kaleidoscope 
of childish activities and fancies, to lengthen the radius and 
sweep of thought and feeling and imagination, and so by 
many-sided experience and rehearsal to round out the micro- 
cosm of human character into ampler proportions and apti- 
tudes, and a more manifold and rhythmical symmetry. 

The child is an apprentice to the highly complex art of 
civilized living, an art whose specialty lies in its adapta- 
bility to the widest range of conditions. An animal learns, we 
may say, but one trade, at which, indeed, he often surpasses 
man, whose immense superiority is, however, that he in a 
manner knows and practises the trade of every animal. What 
the brute creation accomplishes in the way of adaptation 
to surroundings — as, for instance, living under wide climatic 
differences, or variations of food-supply, or in the midst of 
competitors and enemies — ■ is brought about largely through 
division into species. Man, on the other hand, does the same 
thing, not by changes of form and structure, but through such 
intelligent and conscious modifications of conduct as are 
devised by his own ingenuity. He thus includes within 
himself, in a measure, the adaptive possibilities of the animal 
kingdom taken as a whole. In this view there is propriety 



IN TR 01) UCTION. XXI 

in speaking of him as a genus, for he holds within his mani- 
fold and plastic nature the potentialities of many species. 
For illustration, compare the human hand with the analogous 
organ of brutes. It can perform, approximately, the func- 
tions of them all. It can push and pull and dig and climb 
and paddle and strike, and, taught by the brain, can extend 
and modify itself by means of a thousand cunning and 
efficient tools. Man is thus, among animals, pre-eminently 
the Jack-at-all-trades. But his superiority consists not in 
manual dexterity or any merely physical adaptability, but in 
his surpassing faculty of mental representation, and its count- 
less retinue of concomitants and corollaries. In his brain 
hangs the mirror of the universe, whose reflections are ren- 
dered at once luminous and stable by the fixation of language. 
The absent in space and the distant in time are by this 
miracle of representation instantly brought and firmly held 
within the grasp of consciousness, as much as the here and 
now. This power, except in the most rudimentary form, no 
brute possesses. But it is a power that requires time for its 
exercise. Unlike the animal, man has not only to perceive, 
but to apperceive, to compare and separate and label, and 
store up his perceptions for future use ; and it is this process 
that delays and prolongs, at the same time that it broadens 
and gives symmetry to his development. It is this " looking 
before and after" in all his experience and conduct that in 
man contrasts so strikingly with the touch-and-go directness 
of the single-minded brute, and often gives to the latter such 
seeming advantage of facility and speed. At the start in 
life's race, man must see the brute procession rapidly file 
past him, but only to win the near and easy goal of their 
maturity ; while his career stretches far beyond to bounds 
which they can never approach. This race is not to the 
swift, for the course lies in no straight or single line. Man's 
destiny is to beat an ampler field. 



XX11 INTRODUCTION. 



VII. 



We have spoken of the child as an apprentice. The art 
and mystery of life lie before him, no longer primitive and 
simple as in prehistoric ages, but developed and expanded 
into the thousand forms, usages, and institutions of modern ( 
civilization. These it is his task to learn and practise. And 
it is to this long and arduous undertaking that the infant, 
happily unmindful of its magnitude, applies himself betimes 
and with joyful and indomitable alacrity. He attacks the 
problem, as we have said, first, by resolute and manifold 
activity, beginning with the reflex and iustinctive, which 
gradually merge into the purposive; secondly, by imitation 
and mimicry, also impulsive and fitful at first ; and finally, 
as re-enforcements of intelligence arrive, by more expanded 
and systematic games and sports, which eventually carry him 
to the threshold of maturity. This, in rough outline, is the 
sketch and plan of his procedure, which, indeed, is but a con- 
forming to the necessities of his situation. The serious work 
of life is far beyond the powers and ken of a child. In 
physical ability and in understanding he must long remain a 
weakling and dependant. But he inherits a patrimony of in- 
stincts ; and though he seems at first to squander this in many 
prodigal and aimless undertakings, he is thereby continually 
gaining valuable experience. He casts about for an opening 
into the attractive activities that he sees going on in the 
adult world around him, and, reckoning perforce with his 
immaturity and impuissance, straightway adopts, as the only 
profession possible to his small executive powers, the drama. 
The long-past achievements of his ancestors reverberate and 
tingle in his blood, impelling him to action; but all his efforts 
are ludicrously futile beside those of the giants about him, 
and meet only with indifference or jeers. The world of law 
and order and svstematic endeavor is too tough for his as- 



INTRODUCTION. XXlii 

similation. It must first be softened into myth and make- 
believe by the solvent juices of fancy, which the glands of 
his little mind fortunately pour out in abundance. He can- 
not live life ; he must dramatize and play it. So he becomes 
an actor, an amateur in the good sense, ■ — 

"Filling from time to time his 'humorous stage' 
With all the ' persons,' down to palsied age, 
That Life brings with her in her equipage." 

Thus in imitative play, in obedience to the biologic law of 
recapitulation, the child epitomizes and rehearses the funda- 
mental experiences of the race, at the same time that he is 
sounding the depths and shoals of his own nascent powers, 
and thereby preparing day by day to take part in the real 
work of life which the coming years will bring. Play is 
thus seen to be at once reminiscent and anticipatory, a weld- 
ing of the future to the past. This is the child's season of 
apprenticeship, his Wanderjahre ; it comes but once; nor is 
it easy to see how it could be essentially narrowed or abridged 
without entailing serious loss of that vital continuity and 
momentum which is the mainspring of human character and 
achievement. The welfare, not only of the individual, but of 
the race, demands the widest sweep and fullest play of this 
deeply-rooted instinct, and any ideal or regimen of education 
that proposes or tends in the least degree to cut it short by 
meddlesome repression or substitution is little less than a 
crime against the race. 

A striking thing about the imitative play of children, as 
revealed on almost every page of the following records, is the 
way in which it is made to minister to what may be called 
the instinct or passion of self-exaltation, the restless and im- 
patient craving of childhood to get beyond and above itself, 
to leap into the future, and assume the dress and ways of 
grown people. The actual status of the child, as I have said, 



xxi V IN TR OB UCTION. 

is weakness and insignificance itself, and his real advance- 
ment is snail-slow. But by laying hold, through imitation, of 
the adult activities around him, he seems to pull himself up 
where he yearns to be, becomes of consequence, at least in his 
own eyes, is "transported beyond this ignorant present, and 
feels now the future in the instant." The leverage thus 
gained is of signal advantage to the child, both as a source of 
present enjoyment, and as supplying the needed spring and 
impetus to further improvement. Where this propensity is 
lacking, as usually in the case of the idiotic, there is no motive, 
and all progress is at a standstill. And it may be remarked, 
in passing, that school-life, so far as it operates to check and 
restrict this spirit of imitation and play, annuls the most 
powerful of childish motives, and tends to reduce the pupil 
for the time to a stagnant and semi-idiotic condition. The 
sway of the self-exalting disposition, though in general so 
salutary, does sometimes play into the hands of precocious 
development, and may, if taken seriously and seconded by 
parents and teachers, become one of the gravest of dangers, 
for it marks a tendency to revert to a lower and shorter 
cycle of growth. The sun should not go down upon any pro- 
nounced symptom of precocity in your child ; let this be 
checked betimes, not by rebuke, but by the starving process 
of turning your back upon it. 



Passing mention has been made of the leading role that 
fancy plays in childish imitation ; how it melts away every 
stubborn fact, outflanks every opposing force, amends or sets 
at naught all laws of nature, passes through every Red Sea 
on dry land, — creates, in short, a universe after its own con- 
ception as it goes along. This fairy realm of fancy, or what 
we call such — the child's world by right of eminent domain, 
furnished with things as they are not, peopled with beings 



INTRODUCTION. XXV 

as they might be, irradiated by " the light that never was on 
sea or land " — is truly a beckoning and delectable estate 
that beggars all the corner-lots and villas of reality. But it 
is given to us grown people to catch only faint and distant 
glimpses into this demesne. Could we fairly penetrate its 
charmed walls, I suspect we should find, after all, a world 
not so strange and foreign as it seems when viewed from 
without. It requires a special and conscious effort for the 
adult mind, at least for one not gifted with poetic vision, 
to see the world with the eyes of fancy ; the lens of maturity 
is focused for facts and laws. The case is otherwise with 
children and savages, and with simple-minded and unsophis- 
ticated folk generally. To their inexperienced apprehension 
things are what they appear to be. They know not seems. 
What we call resemblance, perceiving at the same time less 
conspicuous differences, the primitive mind, being as yet un- 
aware of such differences, is ready to see, — indeed, must see, 
■ — not as mere resemblance, but as identity. Knowledge 
means discrimination, a setting up of distinctions which to 
previous ignorance were unperceived and imperceptible. In 
proportion to the lack of knowledge will necessarily appear 
the homogeneity of things ; differentiation comes only with 
increase of intelligence. We say, from the adult point of 
view, that little children are quick to see resemblances, and 
we ascribe this to their acuteness, but it is really the oppo- 
site ; it is rather the obtuseness of undeveloped perception 
which fails to take note of the large escort of dissimilarities 
that, to experienced eyes, always accompanies and often ob- 
scures the features of likeness. To primitive observation a 
whale must always be a great fish ; it is shaped like a fish, 
and it swims in the water like a fish, therefore it is a fish. 
To perceive in the whale a mammal demands eyes of a wholly 
different focus. The point I wish to make clear is, that the 
eye which has once clearly discerned the mammal in the 



XXVI INTRODUCTION. 

whale can never, or with the greatest difficulty, get back to 
the infantile adjustment, and behold again only the huge fish 
of former seeing. Once leave your low-vaulted past, and you 
caunot return ; you will never more, except in fancy, — 

"Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea; 
Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn." 

The term fancy, from this point of view, comes to seem, in 
a sense, inapplicable to the first vision of the childish mind. 
It rather denotes the conscious effort, more or less abortive, 
of mature intelligence to throw off or divest itself of its 
acquired insight, and revert for simple delight to a naive and 
unsophisticated mode of regarding things. When a little 
child looks at a mask, it is a veritable face that he sees ; 
there is no fancy about it. What we see is painted paste- 
board; if we want a face we must fancy it. Or take the 
case of theatrical representations. In order to enter into and 
enjoy these, we must first dispossess ourselves of our sophis- 
ticated understanding, and try to forget and lose the thought 
of what they are in what they seem. This involves the exer- 
cise of fancy proper. To the little child such an effort is not 
necessary or even possible ; he takes it all for reality. A 
half-grown boy, backward for his years, asked in perfect 
good faith where they buried all the people who were killed 
in the theatres ! Savages dwell in a similar undifferentiated 
or partially differentiated continuum of perceptions. A 
wild Indian, for example, is very reluctant and suspicious 
about having his portrait painted. He has no way of regard- 
ing it but as in some mysterious sense a part of himself, 
because it looks as if it were, and he fears that the artist has 
thus got some sort of possession of him that may be used 
to his injury. A year-old child is likely to call any man 
" papa," and any quadruped " doggie," if the dog happens 
to be about the only four-footed animal that he has heard 



INTRODUCTION. XXV11 

' named. Even the most experienced of us differ from chil- 
dren more in the range of our understanding than in its 
mode of working. We constantly mistake new tilings for 
what they are like, and we correct such first impressions and 
judgments with instinctive reluctance. Our advantage over 
children and savages is, that we have done this with refer- 
ence to a vastly greater number of things. In the realm of 
the wholly new we are all children again. Let me add, to 
guard against misunderstanding, that a considerable ingre- 
dient or admixture of fancy, of what I have chosen to con- 
sider the adult sort, undoubtedly appears early in the plays 
of children, and grows with their growth until it is not to be 
distinguished from the same faculty in mature people. In- 
deed, it commonly rises into great prominence and activity, 
and is worn habitually like a loose garment or wishing-cap, 
that may be put on and off at pleasure, being, in fact, the 
chief distinguishing mark of childish play. It is often made 
use of, half-consciously, half-instinctively, as a device to 
lengthen out the rich sensations of play when their uneffec- 
tual fire begins to pale and is threatened with extinguishment 
by growing intelligence and insight. Girls who were almost 
young women have told me of pathetic attempts to prolong 
the play with their dolls, as it were into broad daylight, 
when all the fancy they could muster proved inadequate and 
fatiguing, and ended in disappointment. 

These considerations suggest a pedagogical question of 
much moment, as to how early and how far what is called 
nature-study or science-teaching should be allowed to replace 
with conceptions of natural law the primitive or mythical 
way of viewing and interpreting phenomena. Whether there 
is not danger of dimming and impairing by enforced disuse 
this natural vision before the later insight of understanding 
is ready to take its place ? To mix a diet of literature and 
science, of imagination and fact, in the right proportions for 



XXVlil INTRODUCTION. 

a child is no mean art"; though there are not wanting practi- 
tioners who are more than willing to undertake it. 

IX. 

I have a few words to add, in closing, with reference to 
the position and character of child study in general. I have 
my doubts, as intimated heretofore, whether children can best 
be studied on the lines and by the methods of psychology, 
unless it be a psychology of a distinctly physiological type; 
and even this appears to me inadequate in taking so little 
account of the influence of the social medium, for a child 
out of the environment of society would be not unlike a fish 
out of water. This is made apparent on every page of our 
records. 

I do not see how certain problems of psychogenesis can 
find any satisfactory solution except through the procedure of 
physiological psychology ; but when its methods of investiga- 
tion have been fully applied, and the student has finished his 
work with the child, important and fundamental as that 
work is, there remains still the child as a social embryo 
whose development is to be traced along new paths and under 
widely different conditions of observation and induction. I 
doubt if this task is to be handed over to the psychologist of 
the schools, for the reason that his training, however sound 
and broad, has been gained by dealing with phenomena that 
manifest themselves in a plane quite above and apart from 
childhood. The appeal of psychology is mainly, indeed almost 
exclusively, to adult consciousness, to the civilized and mor- 
alized man — a very different sort of being from the little 
child. Introspection, which is the main instrument and reli- 
ance in this study as ordinarily pursued, is manifestly inap- 
plicable, if it be not an actual hindrance, in affording a true 
view of the mental condition of children. The bias of the 
introspective habit leads us inevitably to interpret their acts 



IN TR O D UCTION. xxix 

and deliverances in terms of our own conscious states, which 
are at every step so unlike those of children, quantitatively, 
if not always qualitatively, as to be positively misleading. 
As Rousseau says, we " are always looking for the man in the 
child, without thinking what he was before he became a man.* 1 
Psychology as such has no alternative but to regard the child 
as a little man, a homunculus ; whereas the mere fact of its 
immaturity and the shifting proportions which its faculties 
bear to each other in point of relative development at suc- 
cessive stages, should suffice to put it, as an object of study, 
in a category of its own. Landor says, with characteristic 
insight, " Children are not men or women ; they are almost 
as different creatures, in many respects, as if they were never 
to be one or the other ; they are as unlike as buds are unlike 
flowers, and almost as blossoms are unlike fruits." What, 
for example, can any adult discover in himself that explains 
the savagery of the boy or the doll-passion of the girl ? Ima- 
gine the mental attitude of a butterfly that should attempt 
by introspection to account for the voraciousness of the larva 
of its own species ! There is more than growth in the change 
from infancy to maturity ; there is metamorphosis, and that 
often of a character little short of cataclysmal. The insta- 
bility of childhood, the continual change of its centre of 
gravity that results from rapid and many-sided development, 
is such as to defy explanation by any reference to what the 
grown man, psychologist or other, can find by searching the 
recesses of his own mind. Every process and step whereby 
he has come to be Avhat he is, eveiything that has contributed 
to make him an adult, has carried him farther and farther 
away from the condition of childhood, and the door has 
closed behind him at each stage of his advance. 

The child is a child chiefly in this, that with him racial 
instinct stands in the place of individual experience. His 
motives are impulsive and immediate. His mental vision is 



XXX INTRODUCTION. 

of short focus, narrow field, and high magnifying power. 
His view of things is all foreground, with no perspective 
of time, place, causality, or any of the relations of natural or 
logical consistency. He has but the faintest idea of prob- 
ability or contingency. In his world, as in the world of 
dreams, all things are possible, and one event is about as 
likely to happen as another. Hence perhaps his instinctive 
credulity, one of the most attractive of childish traits. There 
is little distinction or detachment between things present, 
things remembered, and things imagined. In place of a dis- 
ciplined and consistent will, he possesses but the fragments 
or segments of physiological reflexes and instinctive impulses, 
combining almost at random and acting with capricious incon- 
stancy. " A boy's will is the wind's will." In his feelings 
alone does the child, like the higher animals, make a near 
approach to the adult type, though still with marked differ- 
ences. Sensitiveness in general, and fear in particular, are 
very prominent. There is much of the same instability and 
fluctuation, and, owing to lack of inhibitory power, a tendency 
to passionate excess. The general current of feeling sets 
strongly in the direction of the ego, though varied by occa- 
sional eddies of altruism that constitute much of the charm 
of early childhood. I need not say that this presentation is 
but a sketch, and makes no pretensions to literal accuracy or 
completeness. 

I often find myself comparing the conduct of children to 
the vicissitudes of our New England weather ; so varied and 
and changeable, so full of extremes and surprises, and withal 
at times so stimulating and delightful, but ever holding a re- 
serve that baffles all attempts to pluck out the heart of its 
mystery. And I fancy it will be long before the wisest of 
us can learn to forecast children's behavior, even for thirty- 
six hours, with so high a percentage of verification as our 
Weather Bureau has attained in the case of atmospheric 



INTRODUCTION. XXXI 

changes. Such a result, I am sure, can only be brought 
about by establishing many stations of observation over as 
extensive an area as possible, and patiently comparing moun- 
tainous masses of facts. 

Children must be compared with children. And they 
should be studied chiefly in their gross and complex activi- 
ties, not too analytically, and with constant reference to the 
social medium which is their natural element. As an object, 
a child should be held at a good focal distance ; bring it too 
near the eye, and it becomes an unintelligible blur. Hence 
a certain clarified common sense, that takes account of the 
ensemble of conditions, is a better outfit for child study 
than a vision Avhich the scientific habit may have rendered 
too intensive and microscopic. And in our interpretative 
comparisons, as has been hinted, it is better to direct the 
view downward than upward, even to the extent of classing 
children at first with savages or with animals, rather than 
with the fully developed man. I am glad to find this opinion 
supported by so high an authority as Professor Preyer of Ber- 
lin, who, as a distinguished man of science, will not be sus- 
pected of inclining too much to the popular side. He says, 
in the preface to his " Mental Development of the Child " (p. 
xvii., Brown's translation) : "Although the little child shows 
himself to the observer always without the least dissimula- 
tion, — unveiled in both the literal and the figurative sense of 
the word, — still there is great danger, with the anthropomor- 
phic tendency of most people in their way of looking at things, 
that more will be attributed to the child than actually belongs 
to him. Moreover, knowledge of mankind is not of much 
help here at first, because everything which at a later period 
comes forth, obscurely or openly, is now present only in the 
germ. On the other hand, the observation of untrained ani- 
mals, especially young ones, and the comparison of the obser- 
vations made upon them with those made upon little children, 



XXX11 INTE OD UCTION. 

have often been found by me very helpful toward an under- 
standing of children ; and I hope from the completion of a 
comparative psychology, together with the inauguration of 
psychogenetic observations, more results than from the prose- 
cution of earlier psychologies of a more speculative sort." 

Perhaps this is as fit a place as any to observe, once for 
all, that there is always some uncertainty attaching to the 
term " child," which frequently becomes a source of misun- 
derstanding that can hardly be helped. One cannot always 
avoid speaking of an infant as a child, and one must some- 
times apply the same term to a youth. We could easily make 
use of a dozen designations (if we had them) for different 
ages and phases of childhood, but even so we should not 
always escape ambiguity ; it would still be necessary to rely 
much on the intelligence and sympathy of the reader. And 
it is the same when by use of the expression " the child " one 
seems to ignore the world-wide differences between individual 
children, a cardinal fact that ought never to be lost sight of, 
though it must be continually obscured by the necessary 
employment of a term that implies a higher generalization 
than anybody has yet reached. 

There is, as has been more than once intimated, great 
complexity and even contradiction in childhood, owing to the 
mingling of reflex and instinctive acts with such as are 
freshly copied from the highly developed and often artificial 
life of the present. The very ancient and the very modern, 
in varying proportions, meet in every child, forming some- 
times a sort of mechanical mixture, like oil and water, and 
sometimes entering into, a more intimate combination or 
emulsion that is even more perplexing to the observer. As 
the young geologist, in his first field-work, finds the strata 
broken and displaced to a well-nigh hopeless degree by 
forces that have been operating to interfere with their orderly 
and chronological deposition, so the student of child life dis- 



INTRODUCTION. XXX1U 

covers to his dismay a confusing commixture of primitive 
instincts with the products of recent culture and custom that 
civilization is constantly pressing in upon the yielding and 
adhesive natures of children. To disentangle this and bring 
it into systematic arrangement will require a store of material 
and an amount of labor of which we have as yet little notion. 
Finally, it should ever be borne in mind that the study of 
children has wider and richer interests than those of psy- 
chology or pedagogy or any mere science. It touches " the 
human heart by which we live." It is worthy to stand, and 
it ought to stand, by itself. Its methods are for the most 
part yet to be devised, and the fulness of its outcome is not 
at present to be foretold or foreseen. I believe it holds the 
largest possibilities of delight, of increase of knowledge, and 
of practical utility. Yet its highest ideal, to my thinking, is 
simply enjoyment of childhood through sympathy and insight, 
without any ulterior purpose whatever. 

E. H. RUSSELL. 

"Worcester, Mass. 
May 1, 1896. 



"I worked "on true Baconian principles, and without any theory col- 
lected facts on a wholesale scale." 

Darwin (Autobiography). 

"The simple [historians] who have nothing of their owne to adde unto 
the storie, and have but the care and diligence to collect whatsoever come 
to their knowledge, and sincerely and faithfully to register all things, with- 
out choice or culling, by the naked truth leave our judgment more entire 
and satisfied." 

Montaigne (Ftorio's Translation, III., 217). 



IMITATION AND ALLIED ACTIVITIES. 



GROUP I. 

Ages between 1 and 3. 



1. Gertrude. Age, 1 year. Gertrude's sister hurt her 
hand, and ran to her mother to have it kissed. Gertrude 
saw her, and, holding her hand with the other as if it were 
hurt, extended it to her mother to be kissed. 

2. Bertha. Age, 1 year. Bertha's mother dips the 
comb in the wash-basin when she combs Bertha's hair. If 
Bertha is given a comb she strikes the edge of the basin 
with it, but puts it in her mouth as often as to her head. 

3. Frank. Age, 1 year. Frank was sitting on the floor 
watching his mother sweep. She used a small brush to sweep 
under the table. The next day Frank found the brush on 
the floor, crept to the table, and moved the brush about 
under it. 

4. Katie. Age, 1 year, 3 months. About a week ago 
Katie saw her mother blow her breath on her finger, which 
she had burned. Since then Katie has several times hurt 
her hand, and once got a sliver in it. Each time she has held 
up her hand to some person to have them blow on it. When 
this has been done she has stopped crying, though in the case 
of the sliver it had not been removed. Even when nothing 
is the matter she offers her hand in the same manner. 

1 



2 IMITATION. 

5. Abner. Age, 1 year, 3 months. Abner is placed 
upon the floor, on a pillow. He gets off the pillow, takes his 
foot in his hand, and, laying it on the pillow, covers it up 
and hushes it to sleep as his mother does him. 

6. Abnek. Age, 1 year, 3 months. Abner's father is in 
the habit of lighting a cigar just after leaving the house, and 
then turning around and shaking his hand, as a good-by to 
Abner. Several times lately when Abner has been at the 
table he has taken a toothpick, put it to his mouth, looked at 
his father and shaken his hand, saying, " By-by." 

7. Elizabeth. Age, 1 year, 3 months. Elizabeth has 
often seen Harlan open the slide in the stove door and put in 
bits of paper. The other day I saw Elizabeth working at 
the slide, and after she had opened it, go to a drawer where 
paper is kept, take out some pieces, and drop them through 
the slide. 

8. Katie. Age, 1 year, 3 months. When Katie is sleepy 
she rocks her cradle and sings, " By-o-by." 

9. Fkank. Age, 1 year, 3 months. The cover of the 
easy-chair was torn, and Frank's mother mended it. When 
she had finished she put the needle in the case, but left the 
workbasket on a chair. Erank got the needle, and tried to 
sew as his mother had done. 

10. Katie. Age, 1 year, 3 months. I watched Katie and 
Fred, who is three years old, for ten minutes. Fred sang, 
Katie sang ; Fred danced, Katie danced ; Fred stretched him- 
self on the floor, Katie did the same ; Fred laughed, Katie 
laughed ; Fred tied a handkerchief around his head, Katie 
found a piece of cloth and put it on her head. 

11. John. Age, 1 year, 4 months. John is not able to 
say horse, and when he sees a picture of one he makes a sound 
that he has heard his father make when driving. 



GROUP I 6 

12. Dorothy. Age, 1 year, 4 months. Dorothy has been 
in the habit of taking a paper and making-believe read when 
her father does. To-day she made motions with her lips, con- 
tinuing to do so for twelve minutes, and peeping over the 
paper every few seconds to see if we were looking at her. 

13. Dorothy. Age, 1 year, 4 months. Harry had been 
doing his algebra. He left his paper and pencil where Doro- 
thy could reach it, and she took it and tried to make marks. 
The next day when Harry was at work, Dorothy cried for the 
pencil. He gave it to her, and she again tried to make marks ; 
but this time she put the point of the pencil in her mouth. 
Harry usually puts the pencil in his mouth. 

14. Leroy. Age, 1 year, 4 months. Leroy's mother usu- 
ally calls her husband Karl, and not papa, as Leroy does. 
Yesterday when his father came home Leroy called out, 
"Kar! Kar!" 

15. Alice. Age, 1 year, 4 months. I have been told 
that when I was sixteen months old I used to try to comb my 
own hair, and always stood where my mother stood to comb 
hers, although the looking-glass was so high I could not see 
myself in it at all. 

16. Arthur. Age, 1 year, 5 months. Arthur gave the 
cat a share of his bread and butter, and wiped the cat's mouth 
with his napkin. 

17. Marion. Age, 1 year, 5 months. Marion was sit- 
ting on the floor. She laid her hand very carefully on the 
base of the stove, which was cold, and withdrew it quickly, 
and shook it, saying, " Bur, bur." 

18. Ralph. Age, 1 year, 5 months. While Ralph was 
playing in the street, a man passed by who used a cane. 
Ralph picked up a stick, and tried to use it as the man 
did. 



4 IMITATION. 

19. Harold. Age, 1 year, 5 months. Harold is very- 
fond of playing "horse," and often unties the long strings of 
his apron or dress, and insists on some one's driving him with 
these for reins. Sometimes he plays being the driver him- 
self. He never plays without a whip, and always carries it 
himself, whether he is driver or horse. 

20. Carl. Age, 1 year, 5 months. One day while play- 
ing with Carl, I pulled his hair, saying, " Ring the bell." 
When he sees me he pulls his hair and laughs. 

21. Lewis. Age, 1 year, 5 months. Lewis put on his 
father's cap, then put a ribbon around his neck, and, after 
repeated trials, managed to get a little cape thrown over his 
head. He then went to his mother, and gave her his hand to 
shake. He shook hands with every person in the room, and 
repeated it several times. 

22. Gertrude. Age, 1 year, 6 months. May asked her 
mother to put her to bed, in an unusual voice. Gertrude, who 
cannot talk, imitated the sound perfectly. 

23. Agnes. Age, 1 year, 6 months. Agnes and her 
brother play " peddler " and call " potatoes," " cabbages," etc. 
Yesterday Agnes was playing by herself when a peddler 
passed crying these things. She at once climbed up in a 
chair, held out her hands as if driving, and cried the same 
things that he did as well as she could pronounce the words. 

24. Grace. Age, 1 year, 6 months. Grace sat on the 
floor with a tin pan in her lap. She pretended to pick up 
things from the floor, and put them in the pan. Then she 
made-believe take them from the pan and eat them. She 
carried the pan to each person in the room ; and when we 
made-believe take something from it, she smacked her lips as 
if eating. She amused herself in this way for nearly half an 
hour. 



GROUP I. 5 

25. Mat. Age, 1 year, 6 months. Johnnie, who is five 
years old, was jumping rope, and saying, " Salt, ginger, mus- 
tard, pepper," laying much emphasis on the last word. Five 
minutes after, May took the rope and tried to swing it, 
making sounds corresponding to the words Johnnie had used, 
and emphasizing the last sound much more than the others. 

26. Margaret. Age, 1 year, 6 months. Margaret knelt 
before the bed with her mother's rosary beads in her hand, 
talking to herself softly. She has seen her mother at prayer. 

27. Judith. Age, 1 year, 6 months. Judith was brought 
into a room where there were several persons. She is bash- 
ful, and sat on the floor for a time. Then she got up, went to 
a corner of the room, and pretended to pick up something. 
She came to me, and made the motions of putting something 
in my mouth. She then went back to the corner, and pre- 
tended to take something to her mother in the same way. 
She repeated this till she had been to every person in the 
room. 

28. Caspar. Age, 1 year, 6 months. Caspar took a roll 
of cloth from a chair, and came running to me. He patted 
the roll, saying, " Baby, baby." He gave it to me, then took 
it again, kissed it, and continued to call it baby. He played 
with it for half an hour. 

29. Bessie. Age, about 1 year, 6 months. Bessie got 
her mother's handkerchief. After playing with it a little 
while she looked serious, and began to make-believe wash her 
neck, ears, hands, and face. When she washed her ears she 
moistened the handkerchief in her mouth. 

30. Payson. Age, 1 year, six months. Payson had a 
lead-pencil in one hand, writing. In the other hand he held 
a thimble. Occasionally he dipped the pencil into the 
thimble. 



6 IMITA TION. 

31. Pays on. Age, 1 year, 6 months. I saw Pay son on 
his hands and knees, eating out of the cat's dish. 

32. Francis. Age, 1 year, 6 months. My handkerchief 
was perfumed, and I gave it to Francis to smell of. I took 
it again, held it up to my face, and pretended to sneeze. 
Ten days after, Francis came to me, took my handkerchief, 
held it up to his face, and made a noise like sneezing. 

33. Elizabeth. Age, 1 year, 7 months. Harlan had a 
sore throat, and just before he went to bed his mother rubbed 
some camphorated oil on his neck. Elizabeth, who was in 
the room while this was done, got an empty bottle, and went 
about rubbing our necks. 

34. Payson. Age, 1 year, 7 months. Payson has seen 
a knife sharpened on a steel. I saw him with a fork and 
a piece of wood going through the motions of sharpening a 
knife. 

35. Mary. Age, 1 year, 7 months. Mary took her fa- 
ther's shaving mug and brush, and sat down on the floor 
and blacked her shoes. 

36. Irwin. Age, 1 year, 7 months. Irwin's father had 
been cleaning the stove with a piece of flannel. Irwin had 
watched him ; and when he had finished, Irwin left the room, 
and returned with the dishcloth, with which he began to rub 
the stove. 

37. Henry. Age, 1 year, 7 months. I hid a pencil that 
Henry wanted; and when he could not find it he said, "All 
gone ! " swaying his right hand from left to right very 
gracefully. 

38. Mary. Age, 1 year, 8 months. Mary has often seen 
her father smoke a cigar. She puts a toothpick between her 
teeth, and makes the same sound her father does. 



GROUP I. 7 

39. Mary. Age, 1 year, 8 months. Mary asks for a 
toothpick after a meal, and uses it very intelligently. 

40. Mary. Age, 1 year, 8 months. I curled Mary's 
hair with my curling-iron. A few days later I found her 
with the iron, trying to curl her own hair. 

41. Herbert. Age, 1 year, 8 months. I was taking 
care of Herbert one afternoon, and left him alone on the 
back piazza for about ten minutes. When I came back he 
had been in the back room, and, finding the refrigerator door 
open, had taken a pound lump of butter, and was rubbing it 
on some clothes soaking in a tub. 

42. George. Age, 1 year, 8 months. The other day 
there was a man at our house fixing the wall-paper in one of 
the rooms. That evening George took a small camp-chair, 
and, pushing it to the wall, got up in it, and rubbed the 
paper up and down. He did this two or three times. 

43. George. Age, 1 year, 8 months. George put a box 
into a rocking-chair, and got up into the chair and sat on the 
box. Then he rocked back and forth, making sounds like 
those children make when playing horse. 

44. Katie. Age, 1 year, 9 months. Katie saw her aunt 
dropping eye- water into her eye through a quill. A few days 
later Katie was seen standing before the looking-glass with 
a lead -pencil stuck in her eye, and pretending she had a 
bottle in her hand. 

45. Charles. Age, 1 year, 9 months. Charles led me to 
a chair, on the seat of which was spread a silk handkerchief. 
Two bottles, a tin cover, and a spoon were in the chair. 
Charles indicated that I was to sit down beside the chair, 
then passed me a bottle, saying, " Salt." This is the first 
time we have known him to play in this way. 



8 IMITATION. 

46. Alice. Age, 1 year, 9 months. Alice came to me, 
ringing a toy bell, and said, "May-man, may-man." I sup- 
pose she meant mail-man. 

47. Euth. Age, 1 year, 9 months. Euth's grandmother 
went to the canary's cage, talked to the bird, and, taking the 
water-dish, went to the kitchen and filled it. Some hours 
later Euth was heard talking to the bird, and soon appeared 
in the kitchen with a tin cup in her hand. She went to the 
sink, and said, "Dink, dink; bird dink." Euth was spending 
the day with her grandmother. 

48. Helen. Age, 1 year, 9 months. Helen was reluc- 
tant to have her face washed, and struggled so long that my 
patience nearly gave out, and I set her down rather hard in 
my lap. A few minutes later she got a sponge and towel, and 
vigorously washed the cat's face. Before she stopped she 
set the cat down hard on the floor, and said, "ISTare !" (there). 

49. Euth. Age, 1 year, 9 months. Euth was given a 
bottle with a top that screwed on. She tried to take the top 
off by turning it back and forth. When she did not succeed 
she took up her dress, and tried with that in her hand to 
unscrew it. 

50. Frank. Age, 1 year, 9 months. Frank had seen the 
boys play shinney in our yard, and was delighted when my 
brother let him take the stick with which they played. Two 
days later I saw Frank playing shinney in the kitchen with 
a toasting-fork and a pair of stockings rolled up in a ball. 

51. Elizabeth. Age, 1 year, 10 months. Elizabeth had 
a small bottle, the stopple of which she kept turning round 
and round. While doing this she said, " Baby's windin' it 
up." 

52. Mabel. Age, 1 year, 10 months. I cleaned Mabel's 
fingernails with a pin. About half an hour later she picked 
up a pin from the floor, and tried to clean her own nails. 



GROUP I. 9 

53. Mabel. Age, 1 year, 10 months. Mabel saw the 
paper-hangers pull the paper off the wall. She went into 
another room, and began to pull off the paper there. 

54. Mary. Age, 1 year, 10 months. Mary has often seen 
her mother cover up the baby in the cradle. Mary spread a 
piece of cloth on the floor, placed a stuffed cat and a doll on 
it, and covered them carefully with another piece of cloth. 

55. Mabel. Age, 1 year, 10 months. I was reading 
with my glasses on. Mabel was sitting beside me. She 
pointed to my glasses, and said, " Glass, glass." I gave the 
glasses to her, and she put them on. Then she said, " Book, 
book." I offered her a book from the table ; but she refused 
it, as she did several others. I then gave her my book, and 
she held it, occasionally turning the leaves. 

56. Mabel. Age, 1 year, 10 months. I struck the tuning- 
fork, and held it to Mabel's ear. She seemed pleased, and 
asked for it. She struck it several times, and held it to her 
ear ; but as she did not strike it in such a way as to make it 
vibrate she soon threw it down. 

57. Bessie. Age, 1 year, 11 months. Bessie was making 
a great deal of noise in the kitchen, and her mother peeped 
in to see what she was doing. She had broken four eggs in 
the coal-hod, and was beating them with a stick. When her 
mother spoke to her she said, " Bessie only making cake as 
mamma did the other day." 

58. Mattie. Age, 1 year, 11 months. Mattie sits in her 
mother's lap at the piano, and runs her fingers over the keys, 
glancing now and then at the open music-book. 

59. Margaret. Age, 1 year, 11 months. Margaret's 
sister Ruth had got angry at something, and sat down in her 
little chair and pouted. Margaret got her little chair, and sat 
down beside Ruth, and put out her lips as if pouting too. 



10 IMITATION. 

60. Mary. Age, 1 year, 11 months. Mary opened Ed- 
win's mouth, and rubbed her finger along his gums. Edwin is 
about five months old. 

61. George. Age, 2 years. George saw his father catch 
a mouse the other day : since that he does this several times 
a day. He gets under the table, pretends to pick np some- 
thing, then goes to the door and throws it out. He laughs, 
and says, " Baby trow de mouse out ! " 

62. Mary. Age, 2 years. Eor nearly half an hour this 
child played her doll was sick, putting wet cloths on its head. 
She has seen her mother do this for headache. 

63. Margaret. Age, about 2 years. My mother tells 
me that when I was about two years old one of my chief 
amusements was filling a travelling-bag with anything at 
hand, getting a shawl, and " going travelling." 

64. Walter. Age, 2 years. Walter has been told that 
his grandmother lives at No. 2, C Street. He was telling me 
where she lived, and when he said two he put his two fore- 
fingers and thumbs together like this A. 

65. Gertrude. Age, 2 years. Gertrude sat opposite me. 
I was talking. She made the same motions that I made, and 
when I put my hands on the table she tried to put hers there. 

66. Katie. Age, 2 years. Katie rocks her kitten in a 
rocking-chair. If the kitten does not shut his eyes she slaps 
him. 

67. Perry. Age, 2 years. At a wedding, when the cler- 
gyman told the bridegroom to take the bride's hand, Perry 
crossed the room and took hold of Maud's hand. (Maud is 
about five.) When Perry was asked to go home he cried, and 
said he did not want to leave the little girl. He had never 
seen her before. 



GROUP I. 11 

68. John. Age, 2 years. It was the custom for Mr. 



to ask a blessing at the table. One clay when Mr. was 

absent John bowed his head, and mumbled something for a 
few seconds. 

69. Georgie. Age, 2 years. Georgie had a new pair of 
shoes. Her mother asked her who bought the shoes. A 
little later Georgie picked up her doll, and said to it, " Who 
bought your slippers ? " Receiving no answer she shook the 
doll and said, " Tell me ! " 

70. Daniel. Age, 2 years. Daniel placed on a stool a 
glass, a mug, a cup, two spoons, and a pitcher. He sat be- 
side the stool in his little chair, and pretended to pour some- 
thing from the mug into the cup. He then made-believe 
drink. He repeated this several times, sometimes using the 
spoon to drink from. I think he has seen his elder brothers 
and sisters play in this way. 

71. Frank. Age, 2 years. Frank has spent much time 
drawing little sticks of wood from one part of the room to 
another. He says he is drawing wood for papa. His father 
is engaged in drawing wood. 

72. Tommy. Age, 2 years. Tommy placed a book con- 
taining a picture of a tree on a chair. He drew a second 
chair close to the first, and placed his drum beside it, then sat 
in the second chair, and made motions as if putting something 
in his drum. He said he was picking chestnuts from his 
tree and putting them in his pail. 

73. Mary. Age, 2 years. Mary saw her aunt take some 
tacks out of a chair, and helped her by putting the tacks in 
a drawer of the tool-chest. A little later Mary got a screw- 
driver, and tried to take out some tacks. When asked what 
she was doing she said, " Doing what auntie did, to help 
her." 



12 IMITATION. 

74. Marjorie. Age, 2 years. Marjorie was punished by 
being shut into the closet for the first time. She was greatly 
frightened, and soon let out. During the afternoon she pun- 
ished her doll in this way every few minutes. 

75. Marion". Age, 2 years. Marion was seen with her 
mother's spectacles on, apparently searching for something. 
When asked what she was looking for she said, " Dolly's 
dress ; I's lost it ! " 

76. Philip. Age, 2 years. Philip has heard persons 
talk through the register to others in the cellar. Whenever 
he hears a noise in the cellar he runs to the register, and talks 
baby talk. He raises his voice to a high pitch. He jumps 
up and down and laughs when any one answers him. 

77. Oliver. Age, 2 years. Oliver has been visiting at 
a milk-farm this summer. Men carry the milk-cans from 
the house to the barn every afternoon about four o'clock. I 
have seen Oliver just before four o'clock get his little express- 
wagon, and begin to carry cans to the barn, two at a time. 

78. Oliver. Age, 2 years. One day the men were em- 
ployed carrying wood from a pile outside into a shed. A few 
days after I saw Oliver putting wood into his wagon, and 
carrying it away. 

79. Oliver. Age, 2 years. The milk-cans, forty in 
number, were standing in two rows in the back yard. The 
wooden stoppers were on a bench near. Oliver busied him- 
self with putting the stoppers in all the cans. 

80. Mary.. Age, 2 years. Katie, wanting some thread, 
pulled it from a spool that was on the machine. In a few 
minutes Mary did the same thing. 

81. Mabel. Age, 2 years. Mabel placed a book on a 
chair, and then drew up a smaller chair, on which she seated 



GROUP I. 13 

herself. She turned over the leaves of the book. She said 
she was at school. She has seen her sisters play school. 

82. Agnes. Age, 2 years. Agnes had been watching me 
draw leaves in my drawing-book. She asked for a leaf, and 
in a little while I saw her with a book and pencil trying to 
draw it. I think she occupied herself for ten minutes. 

83. Jack. Age, 2 years. Jack spit on his fingers, and 
rubbed the wall of the house. He continued doing so for 
three or four minutes. I said, "What is Jack doing ? " He 
answered, " Jack painting house." 

84. Molly. Age, 2 years. When Molly's brothers are 
very noisy Molly stamps her foot and says, " Boys, mind ! " 

85. Lincoln. Age, 2 years. While I was sewing I ob- 
served what my little brother did for forty minutes. He 
built houses of blocks, and then what he called a cannon. 
He told me to look out or the cannon would shoot me dead. 
He placed two chairs, one a rocking-chair, so that the fronts 
touched each other, and tried by climbing into the rocking- 
chair to lie down with his head in one and his feet in the 
other. He failed in this, but succeeded by getting into the 
other chair first. After lying down for perhaps half a minute 
he said he was rested, and played with his blocks again. He 
next found a picture in a book, and told a story about it. 
Then he got on a hassock, and talked to his blocks. He 
said he was playing school. He told the blocks they were 
naughty, and he was ashamed of them. He then told them 
to study their lessons, for he was going to get something to 
eat, and left the room. 

86. John. Age, 2 years. John was looking in Buffalo 
Bill's "Wild West Story-Book." On seeing a picture of a 
buffalo running, he exclaimed, " Git up ! " He kicked on the 
floor as if excited, and shouted. When he came to a picture 



14 IMITATION. 

of a horse running, he threw down the book, and pranced 
about the room, shouting with great vigor, " Git up ! git up ! " 
looking towards the book all the time. 

87. John. Age, 2 years. I watched this child for twenty 
minutes, and this is what he did. He came out of the house, 
and set off at a trot round and round the house. He looked 
serious. Now and then he stopped, and said something to 
himself. A girl came out of the house, and attempted to lead 
him in. He shook her off, saying, " I'm going to be a horse ! " 
and began to trot around the house again. After a time he 
went up to the side of the house, pawed the ground with his 
feet, and acted like a horse going into a stall. 

88. Willie. Age, 2 years. Willie sat on the floor with 
his dog, watching for his papa to come. He said to his mother, 
" See two dogs watching for papa." 

89. Florence. Age, about 2 years. Florence was stand- 
ing on the car seat beside her father. She would pull his ear, 
and then say, " Ow ! " as if some one was hurting her. 

90. Herbert. Age, 2 years, 1 month. Herbert got up 
in the morning before his father and mother did. Seeing 
his undershirt, he put his legs through the sleeves, and said, 
" My's got pants ! " 

91. Gertrude. Age, 2 years, 1 month. When Gertrude 
is on the street with me, and any one bows to me, Gertrude 
bows and says, " How do ? " 

92. Frank. Age, 2 years, 1 month. Frank's father usu- 
ally rocks him to sleep before putting him to bed. To-night 
Frank would not be rocked. He ran around the room with 
his arms folded as if he were holding a doll. He made a 
movement like that of rocking a baby, singing something 
like, " By low, baby," which had been sung to him. This 
continued several minutes. 



GROUP L 15 

93. Alman. Age, 2 years, 1 month. Alman's mother 
passed some candy to the members of the family. After it 
was eaten Alman tore some paper into bits about an inch 
square, and put them into a dish. He took one piece of paper, 
and, holding it against the wall, picked a piece out of it, and 
then carried it to his mother, saying, " Candy." He repeated 
all this with a piece for each person present. 

94. Evelyn. Age, 2 years, 1 month. Evelyn's father 
was playing with her. He rapped on the table, and said, 
"Walk in, walk in!" Evelyn rapped, and said, " Alk in, Mr. 
Cosby ! " Her father's name is Crosby. 

95. Mabel. Age, 2 years, 1 month. Mabel said, " Nanna, 
see." Then she sat on the piano-stool, struck the keyboard, 
and began to sing, as she had seen her brother do. 

96. Gussie. Age, 2 years, 1 month. Gussie played doll 
with a rolled-up towel on which Avas a girl's hat. She fell 
asleep Avith it in her arms. 

97. Mabel. Age, 2 years, 1 month. Mabel came into 
the room Avith a vest, cap, glasses, and large slippers on. 
When asked Avhat she was, she said, " I's p'ice-man." Her 
mother asked her what policemen did to naughty people. 
She Avent to each member of the family, and taking hold of 
the arm shook it and said, " Now be dood ! " She happened 
to catch sight of herself in a looking-glass, when she danced 
up and down and cried out for joy. 

98. Payson. Age, 2 years, 1 month. Payson often goes 
to a stone quarry, Avhere he sees stones lifted by a derrick. 
He had been hammering a block of wood. He took told of it 
as if to lift it up, and said, " Want to lift it up." 

"Well, lift it up," said his mother. 
" Want to lift it up like a stone." 
"Well, lift it up like a stone." 
" Want a derrick," said Payson. 



16 IMITATION. 

99. Mart. Age, 2 years, 2 months. Edwin was crying 
because his mother had spanked him. Mary cried because 
Edwin cried. Her father came in just then, and asked Mary 
why she cried. Mary struck Edwin, and pointed to her 
mother. 

100. Mary. Age, 2 years, 2 months. Mary's sister 
played ball with a bat. Fifteen minutes later I saw Mary 
playing ball, using the stove handle for a bat. 

101. Jamie. Age, 2 years, 2 months. Jamie dragged a 
large chair to the middle of the room and sat in it. " A fip ; 
want a fip ! " His mother gave him a small stick. " A sting ; 
want a sting ! " His mother tied a string to the stick. He 
struck out with it, saying, " Get along, horsey ! " He then 
called, " Apples, pie apples ! " I asked the price, and he said, 
" Ten cents." His mother interrupted him by asking him to 
do something. " Wait till I sell my apples," he said, and 
shouted " Apples " as before. I said I would take some 
apples ; and he delivered them to me by closing his fist, hold- 
ing it over my lap, and opening it. I paid him in the same 
manner, and he went on crying " Apples ! " 

102. Willie. Age, 2 years, 2 months. Willie came to 
this city in the cars. When the conductor called the stations 
he repeated the names in a loud voice. In the evening he 
came to the sitting-room door and called, " Warren ! Spring- 
field ! " etc. 

103. Margaret. Age, 2 years, 2 months. Margaret saw 
her aunt cut her corns, after which she walked slightly lame. 
Margaret was seen limping ; and when asked what the matter 
was she replied, " Oh my corn ! " at the same time holding her 
foot with one hand. 

104. Lucille. Age, 2 years, 2 months. Lucille sat in a 
chair, spread a small blanket across her knees, and tucked it 
in on both sides. 



GROUP I. 17 

105. Arthur. Age, 2 years, 2 months. Arthur amused 
himself a part of the afternoon playing feed the pig. He had 
a tin pail, into which he put whatever he could lay his hands 
on. He carried this to a corner of the room and emptied it. 
He held his arm very stiff when he carried the full pail, as if 
it were heavy, and would raise the pail up slowly, taking 
hold of the bottom to empty it. On the way back he would 
swing the pail lightly. I looked in the corner, and found 
many cards, six tin boxes, some box covers, spools, clothes- 
pins, apples, a doll, and other toys. He had been talking 
about his pig ; and when he saw me looking at the things he 
said, " I's feeding my pig." — " Where is your pig ? " I asked. 
He stepped in front of me quickly, and said, "De pig ain't 
dare ; you can't see de pig." 

106. Henry. Age, 2 years, 3 months. Henry had pic- 
ture cards fastened together by strips of cloth. He arranged 
these on the floor like a pen, and, stepping in, got down on 
his hands and knees and made a grunting noise. 

107. Gertie. Age, 2 years, 3 months. We had been prac- 
tising something we learned at the gymnasium, sitting clown 
on the floor without touching our hands to anything. The 
next day we saw Gertie leaning her back against the wall and 
sliding down. Every time she slid down she said, " See Gertie." 

108. Lucille. Age, 2 years, 3 months. I was writing. 
Lucille said, " Me write." She made some marks on a paper, 
and said, " That's Topsy." (Topsy is a horse she often sees.) 
She turned the paper over and said, " Hamlet." (Another 
horse.) She made more marks, and said she was writing to 
the same person I was. 

109. Lucille. Age, 2 years, 3 months. Lucille had seen 
rugs spread on the floor. I saw her spreading pieces of cloth 
on the floor, smoothing them out, taking them up and spread- 
ing them down again. 



18 IMITATION. 

110. John. Age, 2 years, 3 months. I sat on the floor, 
and, pretending I was unable to get np, asked John to help 
me. I thought he believed I needed help ; but I was no sooner 
up than he was in my former position, begging me half play- 
fully to help him up. 

111. Gertie. Age, 2 years, 3 months. Gertie saw Mrs. 
Clark take her false teeth out. Gertie pulled at her own teeth, 
and said, " Clark take teeth out ; Gertie can't pull teeth." 

112. Gertie. Age, 2 years, 3 months. I observed that 
when Gertie used a lead-pencil she put the point in her mouth 
to wet it. 

113. Henry. Age, 2 years, 3 months. Henry went to 
the cellar door, which was open, and called in different tones 
of voice. 

114. John. Age, 2 years, 3 months. John brought the 
doll, which usually has stockings on, to the fire, and in a piti- 
ful tone said, " No stockings on," while he held the doll out 
as if to warm the bare feet. 

115. Henry. Age, 2 years, 3 months. When Henry sees 
a burning match, he asks if he can " fur " it out. The word 
fur sounds like the noise he makes when he blows it out. 

116. Alice. Age, 2 years, 3 months. Alice can say very 
few words, and these not very plain. Among them is some- 
thing that sounds like 7" won't. Several times she has said to 
her doll in a scolding tone, " N-nya-mya," then in a different 
tone, " I won't." She repeats this several times, and then 
whips the doll. 

117. Henry. Age, 2 years, 3 months. Henry lays some 
of his blocks flat in the box, leaving a space at one side. In 
this space he places some blocks upright, and says, " Whoa, 
Daisy ! Ked, stand up there ! " These are the names of cows 



GROUP I. 19 

that lie often sees. He packs up his blocks in various ways, 
calling them " bossies.'' 

118. Andrew. Age, 2 years, 4 months. Andrew had a 
stuffed cat in his arms. Hearing him cry, I asked why he 
was crying. He said, " Andrew not crying ; kitty cry." 

119. Walter. Age, 2 years, 4 months. Walter took 
two or three sticks from the woodbox, and put them on a 
chair. He took a smaller stick, and made the motions of saw- 
ing wood, at the same time making a sound with his lips. I 
asked him what he was doing. He said, " Saw ood."' 

120. Harold. Age, 2 years, 4 months. Harold's mother 
washed the windows this morning, and while doing so occa- 
sionally turned around to speak to the baby in the cradle. 
This evening Harold has been washing windows. He took 
pains to hold the cloth he used in a particular manner. When 
he had rubbed one pane, he would put the cloth on his left 
arm, and turn around and talk to the baby. He rubbed so 
hard that he was sweaty, but would not stop until his mother 
obliged him to, — at the end of an hour, I think. He talked 
to himself and laughed most of the time. 

121. Emma. Age, 2 years, 4 months. Emma saw a girl 
out-of-doors throwing up a ball, running to catch it, and laugh- 
ing. For an hour or more after, Emma ran about the room, 
making-believe throw up a ball, running to catch it, and 
laughing. 

122. John. Age, 2 years, 4 months. John arranged a 
row of colored cards on a box, and then stood back from them 
while he looked at them. He called me to see them, and said, 
" Pitty pitty." He had seen me do the same thing the day 
before. 

123. Ted. Age, 2 years, 4 months. I found Ted's horse 
lying on its side, and, supposing it had been accidentally 



20 IMITATION. 

thrown over, placed it on its feet. Ted said, " Put my horse 
back ; my horse tired." 

124. Mary. Age, 2 years, 4 months. Mary was " writ- 
ing " on some yellow paper. She soon tired of this, and roll- 
ing up the pencil in the paper asked for a pin. 

125. Willie. Age, 2 years, 5 months. Willie put on his 
father's belt, collar, and cuffs, and taking a stick of wood 
in his hands said, " See, mamma, I's pliceman ; I's Mr. Mat- 
ters." 

126. Nathan. Age, 2 years, 5 months. I heard some 
one in the next room say, " Bang! " Then I heard my father's 
voice asking Nathan what he was doing. " Shooting par- 
tridges," said Nathan. " How many did you get ? " — " Two." 
I went to see what Nathan was doing. He had an old stove- 
hook and some clothespins. He would put two clothespins 
inside the hook, and holding it above his head, say, " Bang." 
He did this eight times. 

127. Arthur. Age, 2 years, 5 months. Arthur had a part 
of a comb, which he called his axe. One long tooth made 
the handle, and the ornamental top the blade. He made the 
movements of picking up wood in one place, carrying it to 
.another place, and chopping it. He came to me, and I took 
hold of his axe. He said, " No ! wood, wood all chop." He 
held the axe tightly, and I understood that he wished me to 
take the make-believe wood that he had cut. 

128. Charlie. Age, 2 years, 5 months. Charlie had been 
standing for some time at the window, seeing the boys outside 
throw snowballs. He approached his mother, and stooped to 
the floor as if picking up something, and then made the mo- 
tions of throwing it at her. When he had repeated this 
several times his mother asked him what he was doing. 
"I'm throwing snow at you," he said. 



GROUP I. 21 

129. Arthur. Age, 2 years, 5 months. Arthur takes a 
book and mumbles something, casting his eyes across the 
page as if reading. 

130. Anna. Age, 2 years, 5 months. Anna's aunt had 
been cutting out a dress, and had made a collar for it. Anna 
picked up two pieces, one larger than the other, sat down 
at the work-table, and cut out what she called a collar. She 
pinned this and the large piece to her grandmother's dress, 
and " fitted " them as she had seen her aunt do. 

131. Willie. Age, 2 years, 5 months. Willie's mother 
gave him a dose of castor-oil. Soon after, he got the bottle, 
and taking a rubber cat, tore it open, and covered it with oil. 
He brought the cat to his mother, saying, " I give tabby dose 
o' oil." 

132. Willie. Age, 2 years, 5 months. Willie's dog 
catches persons by the toe of the shoe. Yesterday Willie 
took the toe of my shoe in his mouth, pinching it quite 
hard. 

133. Philip. Age, 2 years, 5 months. Philip piled up 
some sand, stuck a stick in the top, and called, " Mamma, 
come see the chimney." 

134. Henry. Age, 2 years, 5 months. Henry had a 
singing-book, and sang, " do, re, mi, funny, funny." He con- 
tinued this three or four minutes. 

135. Mary. Age, 2 years, 5 months. Mary gathered 
small pieces of paper from the waste-basket, and put them in 
a chair. She then passed them back and forth through her ( . 
hands, saying, " Pm making cake." She continued this for 
ten minutes. 

136. Jessie. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Jessie was play- 
ing on the sidewalk with two other children. As I passed I 
heard her say to Frank, " Come and see my baby ; she's awful 



22 IMITA TION. 

sick." She showed him a little mound of sand with a tin box 
lid partly buried in it. 

137. Estelle. Age, two years, 6 months. Estelle has a 
doll with a china head. She took a comb and brush from the 
bureau, and used them first on her own head, then on the 
doll's. 

138. Bessie. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Bessie was eating 
with her fork, using it very nicely. Her mother was telling 
a younger child how to use his fork, and guided his hand. 
Bessie said, "Mamma, help me to eat too." No notice was 
taken of her; but she repeated the demand, and refused to eat 
until her mother guided her hand. 

139. James. Age, 2 years, 6 months. James was left 
alone for a short time. When his grandmother went into 
the room she found him standing on the table, which he had 
reached by means of a chair. He had opened the door of the 
clock, and turned the hands till they would turn no more. 

140. Payson. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Payson has seen 
me swing Indian clubs. Some crook-necked squashes were 
brought into the house one day, and Payson took them and 
swung them about. 

141. Edward. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Edward had 
been in an elevator with his mother. His father asked him 
how it went, and he said, " Up and down," moving his hands 
to show how. 

142. Margaret. Age, 2 years, 6 months. When we 
are sewing, Margaret asks for a needle and thread. She 
does not want a knot in the thread, but amuses herself draw- 
ing the thread through and through, and making no stitches. 

143. Bertha. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Mrs. Erench 
said to Bertha's mother, " Will you have a p-e-a-c-h ? " 
Bertha said, " Can I have a c-t ? " 



GROUP I. 23 

144. Herbert. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Herbert pushed 
a small chair in front of him, rang a bell, and made the sound 
" choo-choo " for about half an hour without stopping. He 
continued ringing the bell much longer. 

145. Thomas. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Thomas plays 
sell meat from a wagon. His wagon is the inside of a table 
with a long bolt. When he pushes the bolt in he shuts the 
wagon, when he pulls it out he opens the wagon. He insists 
on details like this : " Do you want to buy any meat ? " — - 
" Yes ; what kind have you ?" — " Ham." — " How much is it 
a pound ? " — " Ten cents." — " Bring me in two pounds." — 
" Get your plate and bring out your book." I get a book, as 
requested, and go to the wagon. He wishes me to stand first 
on one side and then on the other, that I may see all the 
meat. He makes-believe write in the book, shuts the wagon, 
and goes on to another customer. 

146. Margaret. Age, 2 years, 6 months. I saw Mar- 
garet take a piece of stiff white paper, fold it up like a cloth, 
and then get down on her knees, and pretend to scrub the 
floor. 

147. Harvey. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Harvey had a 
box of sand, an empty spool, a clothes-pin, a short stick, and 
a rattle. He took the spool, and in turn each of the other 
things, and held them over the box and shook it. He repeated 
this three or four times. When asked what he was doing, he 
said he was putting spices in the pudding. 

148. Clarence. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Clarence put 
four cards in a box under a chair, then went to the other side 
of the room. Soon he ran and pulled out the box, saying, 
"My cookies are all burning up in the oven." 

149. Alice. Age, 2 years, 6 months. I found Alice 
alone in a room. She had some sheets of music before her, 



21 IMITATION. 

and a toaster in her hand. She was rubbing her fingers 
over the wires of the toaster as she had seen her sister do 
on the guitar. 

150. Lucille. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Lucille had 
some paper on which she had marked. She crumpled it up in 
her hand, and said, " Now carry this to the post-office." 

151. John. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Two members of 
the family played dominoes one evening. In the morning 
John was left alone in a room where was a dish of apples 
sliced for pies. When his mother came in she found John 
playing dominoes with the slices of apple on the floor. 

152. Margaret. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Margaret 
amuses herself by dusting the furniture and by trying to wash 
the floor, sometimes with a piece of cloth, sometimes with 
paper. 

153. Mary. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Mary was fond of 
showing the album to visitors. When she came to the picture 
of President Garfield she would say, " This is President Gar- 
field ; you know him, of course." 

154. Walter. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Walter was vis- 
iting with his mamma. Some one said " Charge " to the dog. 
When they came home Walter said " Charge " to the cat. 

155. Sadie. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Sadie was pretend- 
ing to read. Some one touched her to attract her attention. 
She said, " Don't ! I'll lose my place." Her grandmother 
sometimes speaks of losing her place when reading. 

156. Willie. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Willie's grand- 
papa was standing with his back to the stove, and his hands 
behind him. Willie looked at him for a minute, and then 
took the same position. 

157. Willie. Age, 2 years, 6 months. When Willie sees 
his grandpapa warming his hands by holding them over the 



GROUP I. 25 

stove, Willie stretches out his hands and says, "Me warm 
hands too." 

158. Everett. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Everett is very 
fond of candy. When any one asks him what they shall bring 
him, he always says, " Candy." His mother had been down 
street, and when she came home found him playing horse in 
the yard alone. He said he was a runaway horse. His 
mother gave him some candy, and went into the house. In a 
few minutes Everett went into the house, and, laying the 
candy on the table, said soberly, " Me's a horse ; horses don't 
eat candy ; horses eat grass." When he was tired of playing 
horse he went into the house and got his candy. 

159. Gertie. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Gertie put her 
two dolls into a basket, and carried it about the room, saying, 
" I Jew peddler. 

160. Edwin. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Edwin did not 
want to come to the table for supper, but wanted a cooky in 
his hand. He said he was a horse. " Come, then, and let me 
put you in your stall, and give you some supper," I said to 
him. He came prancing like a horse, and was perfectly will- 
ing to be put in his chair. When he received the cooky he 
put it in his plate, and ate, as he said, like a horse, kicking 
his feet about all the while, and shaking his head. 

161. Ted. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Ted was sitting on 
the sofa with his rocking-horses before him. Suddenly he 
threw the reins over the horses' backs, jumped down, and said 
to his mother, " I'm oysterman ! Want any oysters ? " He 
has seen the oysterman drive into the yard, but has never 
heard him say anything. 

162. Ted. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Ted came into the 
room where his little sister and I were, and said, " I'm a fish- 
man ; I must kiss my wife before I go." 



20 IMITATION. 

163. Gertie. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Two or three 
times lately Gertie has said, " I no Gertie no more ; I John 
Crowley. You say, ' Hullo, John Crowley ! ' " When we say 
that she says, " I pretty well ; I go normie school." 

164. Willie. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Willie was play- 
ing " Salvation Army " with his dog. He beat a drum, and 
was followed by the dog, with a wheelbarrow tied to his tail. 

165. Minnie. Age, 2 years, 6 months. Minnie's mother 
was showing me Minnie's photograph, and mentioned that she 
curled Minnie's hair before she had it taken. A few minutes 
later Minnie came into the room with a brush and comb, and 
began to brush her hair. She said, " This way mamma curl 
Minnie's hair." 

166. Helen. Age, 2 years, 7 months. Last week my 
mother took a splinter out of her hand with a needle. Yes- 
terday Helen found a pin on the floor, and, without saying 
anything, went to my mother and began pricking her hand. 

167. Warren. Age, 2 years, 7 months. Warren saw his 
grandfather wash the dog. Yesterday he took a bar of soap 
and rubbed it on the dog. 

168. Louise. Age, 2 years, 7 months. Louise patted the 
baby rather roughly on the back. I asked her why she did 
so, and she said the baby was choking. She has done this 
several times. 

169. Grace. Age, 2 years, 7 months. Grace has seen her 
mother put drops in her sister's eyes. She took a mug of 
water and a spoon, and pretended she was putting drops in 
her eyes. She was spilling most of the water on her clothes. 

170. Johnnie. Age, 2 years, 8 months. I had several 
times told Johnnie to be quiet lest he should wake the baby. 
He was in bed with his doll, and I told him to put the doll to 
sleep. He hummed for a time to the doll, and when a noise 



GROUP I. 27 

was made in the room he said, " Sh ! baby sleep ; wake up 
baby." 

171. Johnnie. Age, 2 years, 8 months. Johnnie's play- 
mate talks a great deal ; as, when going to run she says, " One 
to begin, two to show, three to make ready, and four to go." 
Johnnie repeats this, although not a word is distinct. His 
sentence occupies the same time as hers, is exactly like it in 
force, and he imitates the vowel sound if it is prominent. 
He repeats many things, but not ordinary conversation so 
much as orders or calls in any unusual pitch. 

172. Mattie. Age, 2 years, 8 months. Mattie's father 
built a tower for her with her blocks. Taking a block in her 
hand, she made it climb the tower, and when at the top 
suddenly fall backwards. She then asked her father to build 
a bed for the block that had had the terrible fall, put the 
block in the bed, and covered it with a handkerchief. Then 
the doctor must be called. This has been repeated many 
times. 

173. Ted. Age, 2 years, 8 months. One of the horses 
hurt his foot, and Ted saw it bandaged. He has a rocking- 
horse named Tige, after the horse that was hurt. I found 
him rubbing Tige's leg. He said, 'Tige's foot is sore." He 
pulled a velvet band off his sister's hat, and bandaged the 
horse's leg. 

174. Dennis. Age, 2 years, 8 months. Dennis took a 
slate under his arm, and went from room to room, crying, 
" Tunday Teledram " (Sunday Telegram). 

175. James. Age, 2 years, 8 months. I took James into 
a field to pick bluets. Yesterday he went to the same place 
by himself. 

176. Helen. Age, 2 years, 8 months. Last night I 
taught my sister some of the movements of the Ling gymnas- 



28 IMITATION. 

tics. Helen was present, but took no part so far as I saw. To- 
day I saw her take the position of "arms sideways, stretch," 
and change to " hips firm." I said, " What is that, Helen ? " 
After thinking a moment she said, "Hips bend." At the 
supper-table I saw her do " arms sideways, stretch " twice. 

177. Frank. Age, 2 years, 9 months. I went to Prank's 
house to see him. As soon as I was seated he began to pre- 
tend to scrape up snow from the carpet with both hands and 
throw it at me. All of a sudden he stopped, and said, " Baby 
milkman." He went to the kitchen, and came back with a 
milk-can and a quart measure. These he threw noisily into 
a large chair, and climbing into the chair himself, pretended 
to drive a horse. He shouted, " Whoa ! " got down, and with 
long strides came to me, tipped up the can with his knee, 
poured some spools from it into the quart measure, and from 
that into my lap. After repeating this several times, he sud- 
denly changed his manner, and jumped from the chair in 
the peculiar sideway manner of a man getting off a load of 
coal. He took the can as if it were very heavy, and bending 
down to get it on his shoulders, settled it with a thump, and 
walked off slowly and painfully, his knees and back bent. 

178. Roy. Age, 2 years, 9 months. Roy went across the 
street where carpenters were building a house. He saw a 
chisel used. When he came home, without stopping to have 
his coat taken off, he got a case-knife and a toy mallet, and 
used them as he had seen the chisel used. 

179. Helen. Age, 2 years, 9 months. Helen wanted to 
help wash on Monday, but was sent out-of-doors to play. 
She soon came in with an old washboard which she had found 
on the woodpile. She put this on the floor, and asked for 
something to wash. She helped herself to a piece of soap, 
which she rubbed on the piece of cloth she was washing 
of tener than she rubbed the cloth on the washboard. When 



GROUP I. 29 

the clothespins were brought out she pinned what she had 
washed on the side of the box. 

180. Willard. Age, 2 years, 10 months. Willard got 
my school-bag and luncheon-box, and, giving the bag to Lucie, 
said, " Let's play go to the Normal School." They walked 
round the room several times ; then Willard said, " I guess 
we have got there now ; you must sit down, and we will eat 
our luncheon." They found some cookies in the box, which 
they ate. 

181. Willard. Age, 2 years, 10 months. Last night 
when I reached home Willard was sitting in his high-chair, 
very still. I said, " Well, what are you doing ? " — " You 
mustn't talk," he said. " I'm in the Normal School." Pretty 
soon he added, " Mr. E said for me to write suggestions." 

182. John. Age, 2 years, 10 months. John has been 
watching the carpenters at work on a house near by for three 
days. Yesterday he drove two large nails into the doorsteps, 
and he spends much time in carrying about a handful of nails, 
and a stone which he uses for a hammer. 

183. Eva. Age, 2 years, 10 months. One day the cat 
brought in a dead mouse and laid it down. Eva carried it 
into her room, and laid it on her pillow, saying it was sick. 
Then she wrapped it up, and put it under the stove. Some 
time later, finding no change in it, she dug a hole in the road 
near the house and buried it. 

184. May. Age, 2 years, 11 months. May walked about 
the room for some time with a closed umbrella held upright ; 
at length she asked to have it opened. 

185. Frank. Age, 2 years, 11 months. We often spell 
words which we do not wish to have Frank understand. Yes- 
terday he wanted me to take him out-of-doors, and said, 
"Joe, g-o-b-d me out-of-doors." 



30 IMITATION. 

186. Willie. Age, 2 years, 11 months. Willie talks 
continually of being a " city man." He walks about the 
house with his coat on the end of a stick, which he carries on 
his shoulder. He asked his mother one day to buy him a 
little "tewer" (sewer). When told to do anything he does 
not like, he replies, "No; city mans don't do that." 

187. Frederick. Age, 2 years, 11 months. A colored 
man was laying a carpet, and had a stretcher and hammer 
to work with. Frederick got a hammer and yardstick, and 
sat down beside the man. He made the same motions the 
man made, and, looking up to his mother, said, " Two black 
men putting down the carpet." 

188. Frederick. Age, 2 years, 11 months. The house 
next ours is being painted. This morning Frederick got a 
pail and brush, and made the motions of painting the wall, 
dipping the brush into the pail very often, and saying, " Who 
ami?" 

189. Willard. Age, 2 years, 11 months. This morning 
I asked Willard to bring me his pencil. He said, "I am 
grandma, and you cannot have it." 

190. Monica. Age, 2 years, 11 months. Monica often 
asks if she can be Belle (an elder sister). She then holds up 
her dress, and minces from one room to another, saying she is 
going to school. 

191. Russell. Age, 2 years, 3 months. Russell lived on 
board his father's sailing-vessel from the time he was nine 
months old till he was two years and three months. The first 
time he went out to play on the ground his mother saw him 
pick up a stone, and rub it up and down in the dirt, as the 
sailors holystone the deck — the only use he had ever seen 
made of a stone. When he wanted to go out-of-doors he 
said, " On deck, mamma." 



GROUP II. 31 



GROUP II. 

Ages between 3 and 4. 



192. Herbert. Age, 3 years. Herbert had seen an 
organ-grinder and monkey. He put on a fancy cap, and 
placed the sewing-machine cover on the lounge. He sat on 
the cover for a few seconds silent, then jumped down, ands 
passed his cap for cents. 

193. Henry. Age, 3 years. He was cutting out paper, 
to make what he called paper-dolls' dresses. Seeing his grand- 
mother's glasses on the table, he put them on. After cutting 
out a dress, he took off the glasses, but put them on again 
always before cutting out another dress, saying that he 
couldn't see without the glasses. 

194. Mabel. Age, 3 years. Mabel has seen me use the 
tuning-fork. I have noticed her striking the table with a 
pencil, clothespin, or her finger, and then putting it to her 
ear and trying to sing do. 

195. Helen. Age, 3 years. Helen received a tub, wash- 
board, and clothes-horse at Christmas. Every day for over a 
week she has gone through the motions of washing, not using 
water. She hangs out her "clothes," which consist of a 
handkerchief, three or four worn kid gloves, and a few doll's 
things. She irons them with a cold flatiron, and hangs them 
on the clothes-horse. 

196. Harry. Age, 3 years. When Harry was put to bed 
one night, his grandmother told him the following rhyme : — 



32 IMITATION, 

" Goosey, goosey, gander," etc. 



" There I met an old man 

Who would not say his prayers; 
I took him by the left leg, 
And threw him down-stairs." 

The next morning Harry came into the house, bringing a 
chicken, that he held up by the right wing, and said, " See, 
Gramma ! I got him by the left leg." 

197. Mary. Age, 3 years. Mary's mother went up-stairs, 
and found that Mary had spilled oats over the floor, and par- 
ticularly near her rocking-horse. Mary's mother said, " Why, 
Mary, what are you doing with the oats ? " 

Mary. Papa gives his horse oats to eat, so I gave some to 
my horse to eat. 

198. Bertie. Age, 3 years. Bertie wanted to help Min- 
nie sew. She gave him an old piece of cloth, and he sat 
beside her on a cricket. In a few minutes he said, " Where's 
my lasses ? " Minnie asked what he meant. He went into his 
mother's bedroom ; but as he could not get what he wanted 
he came back and got a chair. Then he climbed up, and took 
his mother's glasses from the bureau. She would not let him 
keep these, but gave him an old pair, the eyes of which were 
punched out by Minnie. He sewed with the bows on his 
nose, then put them on his head and sewed that way. 

199. May. Age, 3 years. Every evening N. and K. do 
their examples for the next day. May, seeing them, says 
she is also doing her examples. Sometimes she has pencil 
and paper; at other times she just sits still without talking. 

200. George. Age, 3 years. One day my father was in 
the garden, thinning out parsnips. George walked behind, 
and, seeing the parsnips on the ground, set them out again. 
When he saw what my father was doing, he began pulling 
them up as fast as he could. 



GROUP II. 33 

201. Anna. Age, 3 years. Anna watches the lighting of 
the lamp by her mamma. Her papa took two cigars from 
his pocket, and laying one on the table he took the other, lit 
it, and began to smoke. Anna was watching him all the time ; 
and she took the one he had laid on the table, put it in her 
mouth, and said : ' Mama, hurry ! put the lamp on it ; " 
meaning, to light it. 

202. Charlotte. Age, 3 years. Mrs. H was doing 

up 's hair upon rolls of cloth, to make it curl. Charlotte, 

who was watching the operation, said, "Mama, can't I have 
some rags put on my hair ? " 

203. Margaret. Age, 3 years. Margaret had been to 
the dentist, and had been told that she must brush her teeth. 
She was heard giving her doll some advice. After a little 
while she came into the room with an old doll in her arms, 
and going to her grandmother, said, "Now, Jerushy, tell 
Grandma what I have just told you." She waited a few 
moments, and then said, " You know I told you to brush your 
teeth every time you eat anything ; now show her how you 
brush your teeth ! " 

204. Charles. Age, 3 years. Charles has seen the dolls 
which are put on an inclined plane, and turn over and over 
down the board. He sat on his mother's ironing-board, and 
tried to do the same. When he could not, he slid down the 
board. 

205. Mat. Age, 3 years. May stood near me, facing 
her sister, and listening intently. She smiled and laughed 
when her sister did, and kept working her face during the 
whole story that was told by her sister. 

206. Chester. Age, 3 years. Chester's grandmother Avas 
going to take him out for a walk. She was a long time get- 
ting ready. Chester went to the stairs and called to her. 
She answered him, " I'll be down in two seconds, Chester." 



r 



34 IMITATION. 

The next day when Chester was playing with his doll he 
pretended that his doll called to him, and he answered, " I'll 
be down in three thirds." 

207. Boy, Unknown. Age, 3 years. I saw a little boy 
playing at letters. He took pieces of paper that he found in 
the gutter, and put them in the letter-box. He then walked 
off a short distance, and came back with another paper. When 
this had been done several times, he came up and made-believe 
open the box and take out the letters. 

Then he lifted up part of his cloak, and put in the ima- 
ginary letters, and walked away. 

208. Unknown. Age, 3 years. I saw two little children 
oat walking. When they came to a house, the taller of the 
two went up to the door, and made-believe ring the bell. 
Then both called " Hello " several times, and as they spoke 
put their mouths up to the wall of the house. They did this 
at several places. 

209. Willie. Age, 3 years. Willie had a piece of paper 
about four inches square, which he took with him into the 
middle of the road, and filled with snow. He then went back 
to his doorstep, where he put the snow. He did this four or. 
five times, and then sat on the step and began to eat the 
snow, which was very dirty. 

210. Mary. Age, 3 years. Mary was left to amuse the 
baby one morning. They were sitting in the entry, sur- 
rounded by playthings, ribbons, bits of lace, and other things. 
After playing a while, she was joined by two boys about her 
own age. She put away the playthings, and began to dress 
the baby up. She put a cap on its head, tied a piece of lace 
and a ribbon around its neck, put pieces of ribbon on its 
wrists, and then threw a blue cape over its shoulders. Then 
all three of them moved away from the baby and watched 
her. 



GROUP II. 35 

211. Mat. Age, 3 years. G. was having something put 
into her eye with a syringe. May watched attentively the 
process, and then touched her own eye, saying, " May's eye 
sore." 

212. May. Age, 3 years. May took the stuffed cat, sat 
down on a hassock, and rocked it to sleep as she has seen her 
mother rock the baby. 

213. Harry. Age, 3 years. Harry had a toy theatre. 
He had heard some one read President Cleveland's address 
at the Harvard Celebration. He took a spool, and called it 
" President Cleveland," and another he called " Governor 
Robinson." He made these walk up on the stage of his thea- 
tre, and got his sister to read the President's speech. We 
all clapped when she finished it, and Harry said that if we 
would wait we could hear the Governor's speech. 

214. Tommy and Mamie. Age, 3 years. Tommy and 
Mamie overturned an empty soap-box. Both stood on it. 
Tommy began to talk in a monotonous tone (not his usual 
tone), turned about continually, and made gestures and pointed. 
Mamie interrupted by saying something. Tommy, looking 
angrily at her, said, " Shut up ! " and resumed his talking. 
Mamie stepped off the box, and stood at some distance, look- 
ing at Tommy with a frightened look. 

Tommy talked for at least five minutes, then went to Mamie, 
and both went away. 

215. Josie. Age, 3 years. Josie had some long pieces of 
paper about an inch wide. I heard her say, " These are some 
nice new elastics that I bought ; I am going to give you all 
one. They're awful hard to make. They are, honest and 
truly." 

I saw that she had some of this paper pinned on the front 
of her dress. I asked her what it was ; and she said, " It's a 
pretty bouquet I made ; I'll make you one this afternoon." 



36 IMITATION. 

216. Katie. Age, 3 years. This little girl went to her 
mother and said, " I have thirteen children ; and I have all my 
housework to do, and I don't know what I shall do." 

Mother. Who are your thirteen children ? 
Child. I have two girls and three boys. 
Mother. What are the rest ? 
Child. Oh, they are babies. 

217. Molly. Age, 3 years. While going home, Molly 
increased her speed in walking, at the same time imitating 
two different tones of the car-whistle. She then ceased to 
whistle, and with her feet made a sound closely resembling 
that of a train just entering the depot, — the puff, puff, of the 
engine. 

218. Ada. Age, 3 years. Ada was sewing together two 
pieces of white cloth to make a dress for her doll. While sew- 
ing, she kept saying over and over, "I'll try dis on. If it 
don't fit her, I'll have it for her Sunday dress, to go to church 
in. If it ain't right, I unpick it all — if it ain't right." 

219. Gertrude. Age, 3 years. A man who had a sore 
hand was staying at our house. Gertrude twisted her hand- 
kerchief around her hand, and walked up and down in the 
orchard. 

220. Ada. Age, 3 years. Ada named her doll after some 
girl or woman she liked, telling the doll what her name was 
to be. " Your name is Theresa ; you are her. Believe you 
are Theresa. 

She did this each time I have heard her name a doll. 

221. Gertie. Age, unknown. Last night Gertie was 
swinging her arms, clapping her hands, and shaking herself. 

As I kept looking at her, she said, " Gertie cold." 

222. Willie. Age, 3 years. Willie saw his father put 
two fingers into his mouth, and then whistle. Soon after, 



GROUP II. 37 

Willie was walking about the house with two fingers in his 
mouth, making a noise like a prolonged oo. He said he was 
whistling. 

223. Clarence. Age, 3 years. Clarence runs on the oil- 
cloth, and always shouts, " Four, five, six," just as he starts. 

224. Herbert. Age, 3 years. Herbert admires very 

much a young man named Leslie . Several times he has 

said in the morning, " My name is Leslie," then throughout 
the day has answered to no name but Leslie. If spoken to by 
his own name he keeps silent as long as he can, and then 
breaks out impatiently with, " My name is Leslie." 

225. Clarence. Age, 3 years. For a long time Clarence 
called himself Johnnie Green. The hired man on his father's 

farm was named Patrick, and he called Miss F his 

Patrick. One day he went to have his photograph taken, and 
when asked his name, said, "Johnnie Green." The photog- 
rapher, who knew him, questioned him further; and he per- 
sisted that that w r as his name, and pointing to Miss F , 

said, " This is my Patrick." Miss F said, " You call 

yourself Johnnie Green ; now tell Mr. what other people 

call you. He then said his name was Clarence. 

226. Clarence. Age, 3 years. Clarence made-believe he 
was a horse so constantly that it became troublesome, and 

his parents thought he must be broken of it. Miss F 

had the care of him. She told him if he was a horse he must 
live with the horses. He was delighted, and went to the 
stable. One stall had not been cleaned, and he was told that 
that would be his stall. The coachman, who understood the 
case, was asked to bring a chain to tie him. He is a fastidi- 
ous child, and picked his way into the stall. Miss F 

said she would give him some hay, and leave him there all 
night with the horses. He then said he did not want to be 
a horse. Before they reached the house he said he would 



38 IMITATION. 

be a kitty. " Then you must stay down cellar and catch 

mice," said Miss F . "No," said Clarence; "T can have 

a little saucer with milk in it." — " No, only once in a while ; 
the rest of the time you must catch mice." He then said he 
did not want to be a kitty. Since that time he has not played 
that he was a horse or a cat. 

227. Charlie. Age, 3 years. When the teacher was 
putting on Charlie's rubbers she stepped to the register, and 
closed it with her foot. As soon as Charles was at liberty he 
went to the register, and made the same motions that the 
teacher had made. 

228. Name Unknown. Age, about 3 years. Two boys 
about five years old were playing " horse." Another boy 
about three was running behind them. The two elder boys 
sat down on the sidewalk. The little boy sat down also. 
When the elder boys rose he rose. 

229. Charlie. Age, 3 years. Charlie sat for over ten 
minutes with a book turned upside down, pretending to 
read. There were no pictures on the pages he was looking 
at. When any noise was made he said, " How can I read 
with so much noise going on ? " He did not read aloud, 
but kept moving his lips as though he were reading to him- 
self. 

230. F. L. Age, 3 years. F. L.'s father was reading the 
paper. When he had finished he laid it on the table. F. L. 
took up the paper, and pretended to be reading it, saying, 
" Cat, rat," etc., naming different objects, holding the paper 
upside down all the while. 

231. Elmer. Age, 3 years. He had a piece of wood in 
his mouth, which he called a "smoke." He has seen the 
hired man smoke a pipe, and has heard his mother scold 
about the smell. 



GROUP II. 39 

232. Charlie. Age, 3 years. Charne was playing house 
with his little sister. He said he was the father. As he 
passed through the kitchen, his elder sister offered him some 
cakes which she knew he liked much. He refused them, 
saying, " What do I want with cakes ? Men eat only at meal- 
times." About ten minutes afterwards he came in and said, 
" Sarah, may I have those cakes now ? I ain't the father any 
more ; I'm Charlie." 

233. B. M. Age, 3 years. I was watching him from the 
window, and saw him walking around the piazza with a straw 
in his mouth for a cigar, stopping every few minutes to take 
the straw out of his mouth and spit. 

234. J. D. Age, 3 years. He was in the room when my 
sister was trying to recall a melody. She had begun to sing 
several different ones, but said after each trial, " No, I don't 
think that is it." 

A half -hour later he was in a room by himself, and sang 
a few sounds in succession, and then said, "No, dat ain't." 
This he did several times. 

235. Lucie. Age, 3 years. Willard. Age, 1 year, 9 
months. When Lucie and Willard play "house," Willard 
calls Lucie mamma. My mother spilled some milk. Willard 
said, " Mamma, see ; Lucie spilled some milk." 

Lucie. No, I didn't ; mamma did it. 

Willard. Lucie did it. 

Lucie. No ; mamma did it. 

Willard. Well, you are mamma. 

Lucie. I ain't the mamma that spilled the milk. 

236. Thomas. Age, 3 years. Thomas had been watch- 
ing some men who were painting a fence. He went into 
the house, and brought out an old dust-brush, with which he 
began rubbing the fence as if he were painting it. 



40 IMITATION. 

237. Mary. Age, 3 years. Mary walks up and down 
the room with her doll just as her mother does with the 
baby. 

238. John. Age, 3 years. During the past week John 
has played with a boy who habitually says, "No, sir" in 
reply, instead of " No." Yesterday and to-day John has said, 
"No, sir," when he formerly said "No." 

239. Anna. Age, 3 years. Several days ago Anna heard 
a song, in which were these words, " In sunshine and rain we 
remain the same." Last night when I laid my umbrella 
down, Anna opened it, and sang these words several times. 

240. Herbert. Age, 3 years. Herbert had seen a young 
man play on a banjo, and had been greatly interested. He 
found a bread-toaster, and claimed it for his banjo. 

241. Ted. Age, 3 years. Ted brought into the house a 
block of wood shaped not unlike a sled. It had a hole in one 
end, into which he tied a string. He dragged it along the 
floor, and, when asked what it was, said, "A sled. I want 
to slide down hill." 

242. Ted. Age, 3 years. Ted had a long, slender stick 
and a rag in his hand. He asked for a string, and when he 
received it, tied the rag over the end of the stick, and called 
it his dolly. 

243. Stuart. Age, 3 years. Stuart was at the table 
when everybody laughed at a joke which Stuart could not 
understand. He laughed heartily with the rest. After the 
laugh was over he said, " My laugh too ! " I asked what he 
laughed for ; and he said, " My laugh to my papa ; my papa's 
mou' open." He put back his head and opened his mouth as 
his father had done. 

244. Walter. Age, 3 years. I ate my bread without 
butter. Walter's mother gave him a piece of bread with 



GROUP II. 41 

butter on it. He declined it, saying, " I want some of that 
other kind." She gave him a small piece, and he ate it. 

245. Walter and James. Age, 3 years. James asked a 
question, and Walter answered, " Ith ! " — " Say yes, Wal- 
ter ! " said James. Walter said " Yes" The same thing oc- 
curred again. After a short time James himself said " Ith " 
to a question asked by Walter. 

246. Everett. Age, about 3 years. Everett heard his 
nurse and another woman talking of a child that had died 
from the effects of a punishment. A few days later Everett 
tied the hands of his doll behind her, and tied the doll to a 
chair. This was somewhat like the way the child spoken of 
had been punished. He said, " Now, Dolly, you've been a 
bad girl. I'm going to leave you in this room alone, and 
you'll die and be buried." 

247. May. Age, about 3 years. May took her toy flat- 
iron, which had been on the stove, wrapped it up, and put it 
at the feet of her doll that she had previously put to bed. 
She has done this repeatedly. 

248. Louise. Age, about 3 years. Louise saw some men 
learning to ride their bicycles. Some days afterwards her 
mother saw her sitting on a hassock, and pushing it along. 
Every little while she fell off, as the men did. 

249. Louise. Age, about 3 years. Louise's mother had 
put vaseline on her chin because it was chafed. The next 
day Louise was found with the bottle of vaseline, rubbing it 
on the cat's nose and feet. When discovered she said, " Kitty 
sore ! " 

250. Ted. Age, 3 years, 1 month. Ted had a brush and 
comb, and went about the room brushing and combing the 
chairs. He said he was cleaning his horses. 



42 IMITATION. 

251. Ted. Age, 3 years, 1 month. Ted placed the chairs 
in two lines, and tied them together. He then said, " Give 
me a pail to milk my cows." I said nothing, but handed him 
a pail. He put the pail under every chair, and made-believe 
milk every one. He then asked, " Where'll I put this milk ? " 
I made-believe empty it into something, and he went on with 
his play. 

252. Ted. Age, 3 years, 1 month. I noticed a long rope 
tied to the lower round of a rocking-chair. I asked Ted what 
it was ; and he said, " My cow's tail ! " 

253. Ted. Age, 3 years, 2 months. Ted has a button- 
mould an inch and a half in diameter, with a long string 
attached to it. He calls it his weight, and uses it to hitch 
his horses. 

254. Charlie. Age, 3 years, 2 months. Charlie got on 
my back. I took his feet in my hands, and he moved them 
up and down, saying, " Go 'long, my bicycle ! " 

255. John. Age, 3 years, 2 months. John worked very 
busily twisting a rope around the back of a chair, and tying it 
to the seat. When it was done he stepped back and looked 
at it, saying wearily, " Well, at last I got my horse harnessed." 

256. Irving. Age, 3 years, 3 months. Two weeks ago 
Irving went to a funeral, but did not see the burial. Since 
then he makes his dolls die, and his mother found him once 
trying to make the cat die. He has a funeral, and cries, not 
in make-believe, but really. He has never had a burial. 

257. Bennie. Age, 3 years, 3 months. I saw Bennie, 
who did not know that he was observed, walking about the 
piazza with a straw in his mouth. Every little while he 
stopped, took the straw out of his mouth, and spit. He put 
his arms behind, and walked slowly, slightly frowning. 



GROUP II. 43 

258. Gertrude. Age, 3 years, 3 months. The eat Avas 
lapping milk from a dish. Gertie got down on her hands 
and knees, and, tilting the plate so that all the milk ran to 
one side, said, " Drink some more, kitty ; drink more ! " 

259. Whitney. Age, 3 years, 3 months. Whitney is 
very fond of playing " horse." I sat in the room with him 
busily reading. He asked me what he could do, and I told 
him that I would go to ride with him if he would get ready. 
He worked for about fifteen minutes trying to get his large 
baby-carriage into the room. I noticed that he tried not to 
hit anything. He asked me where he should put it in the 
room ; and I told him two places, but he did not put it in 
either of the two. He tied a rope to the door-knob ; this rope 
was for the reins. There was no place for the whip, so he 
went out of the room, and was gone just eleven minutes. 
When he came back he had an old blacking-bottle. This he 
put into the carriage for a whip-socket. He then tied all the 
horses and other animals he had to the wheels of the car- 
riage. There were eleven, and he put into the carriage a dog 
and a pig- that had lost their legs. It was about an hour and 
a quarter before he said he was ready to take me to ride. 

260. Ted. Age, 3 years, 3 months. Ted was carrying a 
tin cup filled with sand about the room, and with a shoe-horn 
dipping out the sand and putting it on the chairs. I asked, 
" What are you doing ? " — " Feeding my horses," he said ; 
" this is their meal." 

261. Blanche. Age, 3 years, 3 months. Blanche was 
playing horse. A train passed ; and she at once jumped from 
her horse's back, and said to the wooden horse, "Now, you 
stay there ! " She walked a little distance from the horse, 
and began waving a little plant for a flag. When the train 
had passed out of sight she stopped waving, and got on her 
horse again. 



44 IMITATION. 

262. James. Age, 3 years, 3 months. Mrs. F was 

telling a story in "which she made queer faces. James imi- 
tated her. When he realized that he was imitating her, he 
flew into a passion, and called her a bad woman. 

263. Harry. Age, 3 years, 3 months. Harry was trying 
to get his little broom away from Flora. After getting it he 
laid it on a crack in the floor, then got a large broom, and laid 
it parallel to the other, at about a foot distant from it ; then 
got two pokers, and laid one at the end of each broom ; then 
got four sticks of wood, and put two on each side ; next a 
stove-handle on one side and a stove-shaker on the other ; 
then he brought his two-wheeled cart, and pushed it between 
the things he had arranged. Flora asked him what he was 
doing ; and he said he was making a railroad, and that she 
must not go across it, because the engine was coming. 

264. Edna. Age, 3 years, 4 months. When the children 
waved their hands in the air while singing, Edna took out her 
handkerchief and waved it. She also kept her hands moving 
in her lap as if she were playing the piano. 

265. Edna. Age, 3 years, 4 months. She said, " Let's 
play mouse." She played that the ball was the mouse, and 
hid it in her basket. Then she pulled it quickly out, and let 
it run along the window-sill. 

I said, " I should think the cat would catch it." Imme- 
diately she took a piece of yellow ribbon out of her basket, 
saying, "This is the cat." She then played that the cat was 
catching the mouse. 

266. Whitney. Age, 3 years, 4 months. Whitney ran 
away, and to punish him his mother tied him to a post for 
about ten minutes. Since then when he has lost anything 
and found it, he ties it. I was at work near a fence. Whit- 
ney said because I ran away he must tie me. He did it in 
such a way that I could not untie myself. This pleased him 
greatly. 



GROUP II. 45 

267. Edith. Age, 3 years, 5 months. Edith sits at a 
table in a high-chair, with a scrapbook propped up with other 
books before her, and plays the piano. Occasionally she asks 
if the tune is not pretty. She sometimes plays as much as 
an hour ; and if she gets tired, and leaves it, she returns to it 
after playing something else for a short time. 

268. Ella. Age, 3 years, 5 months. Ella saw a comb 
and hand-glass on the window-sill. She said, " Let me comb 
your hair. You be my little boy ; no, you be my baby. Now 
don't holler."' 

269. Fkank. Age, 3 years, 5 months. I made a sound 
by holding a piece of grass between my hands and blowing on 
it. Frank heard it, and picked a piece of grass, and went 
through the same motions, but could not make a sound. He 
seemed happy, and walked around on the grass for five or ten 
minutes, going through with these motions all the time. 

270. Gertrude. Age, 3 years, 5 months. Gertrude lives 
in the house with a woman who gives painting-lessons, and 
is often in the studio. Gertrude was at my house, and asked 
me for paper and pencil. She sat at the table, seeming uncon- 
scious that I was observing her actions. She moved the pen- 
cil around on the tablecloth in imaginary paints, and made a 
few strokes on the paper, which she had on a high box-cover. 
She repeated this several times, with the same motion of the 
hand which I have seen painters use. 

271. John. Age, 3 years, 6 months. John was using a 
pencil. He put the point in his mouth. He said to Katie, 
'•' You must do that if you want to write ; my grocery-man 
does that." 

272. Eddie. Age, 3 years, 6 months. Minnie was jump- 
ing rope. Eddie went through all the movements that she 
made. 



46 IMITATION. 

273. Margaret. Age, 3 years, 6 months. Margaret's 
mother often uses the expression "like a good girl" when she 
asks Margaret to do anything. Margaret wanted a toy taken 
from a shelf. She said, " Mamma, get me that, like a good 
girl." 

274. Kosie. Age, 3 years, 6 months. Eosie's sister was 
throwing stones at some boys who had plagued her. Eosie 
looked on for a moment, and then began to throw stones also. 

275. Harry. Age, 3 years, 6 months. The sidewalk 
was wet and muddy, and this little boy was holding up his 
dress as ladies do. 

276. Willie. Age, 3 years, 6 months. Willie has been 
allowed the use of a hammer since he was able to hold one, 
and the other day I saw him driving nails with considerable 
skill. Some carpenters were at work on a building near by, 
and his strokes were as regular as theirs. 

277. Grace. Age, 3 years, 6 months. Grace was at a 
hospital, under treatment for spinal curvature. In the same 
ward was a helpless idiot, who made dreadful faces. When 
Grace's mother went to see her, she observed that Grace imi- 
tated these faces. I also observed that after Grace came 
home she made similar faces. 

278. Ealph. Age, 3 years, 6 months. Ealph was found 
cutting his hair on top of his head, and in explanation said, 
" Some mens at church have their hair cut funny." 

279. Emma. Age, 3 years, 6 months. I was writing. 
Emma said to me, " I want you to go up to Dr. Gould's and 
get a penny." — " What for ? " I asked. " To buy you a pair 
of shoes." — " Do I need a pair of shoes? " — " Yes ! You want 
me to go with you ? Miss Lulu, I want you to go right now. 
Don't stop to write. I'll get your hat." She brought my hat, 
and put it on. " Now sit down till I get ready." When we 



GROUP II. 47 

were on the way, I asked, " Where are we going ? " — " Down 
street to buy some meat, ain't we ? Come, now, little girl. 
Hands clean ? Don't be naughty." 

280. Tommy. Age, 3 years, 6 months. A handorgan 
man was playing in the street. Tommy stood by, and imi- 
tated his movements. The next day I saw Tommy in the 
yard with some other children, playing for them. His left 
hand was the organ, and his right hand turned the crank by 
moving around the left hand. He made the sound " de, de, 
de," etc. Every few minutes he put his hand over his shoul- 
der as if to fix a strap, and then walked slowly away, as if 
carrying a heavy load. He then played in another place. 

281. Carlton. Age, 3 years, 6 months. Carlton tried to 
tie a tin pail to the cat's tail. I asked him if he ever saw a 
pail tied to a cat, and he said, " Yes ; in a story-book." I 
afterwards found that he had been looking at a picture of 
some boys running after a dog with a pail tied to his tail. 

282. Henry. Age, 3 years, 6 months. I was rocking 
Henry in my lap. He said, " I am going to play baby. 
Baby is sick, and must go to sleep." He closed his eyes, 
then opened them, and began to cry and kick. He said, " That 
old tooth plagues me, but I'm better now." He closed his 
eyes again, but soon opened them, and said, " How can a sick 
baby sleep with all the noise Charlie is making ? " 

283. May. Age, 3 years, 6 months. Recently when I 
called on May's mother I had a bow of ribbon in my hair. 
The next time I called, May saw me coming, and got a bow of 
ribbon, and put in her hair. When I walk with her she holds 
up her dress if I do, and uses her handkerchief when I do. 

284. Henry. Age, 3 years, 6 months. Henry had been 
playing with his cart. He stopped suddenly, and tied it by a 
string to a chair. He said, "I'm putting my horse and wagon 
in the barn." 



48 IMITATION. 

285. Louise. Age, 3 years, 6 months. Louise had been 
rocking her doll, soothing it as her mother does the baby. 
She said in a whisper, " Dolly's asleep now." She got down 
from the rocking-chair very gently and slowly, went into the 
bedroom, and placed it on the bed. Soon afterwards I went 
in, and found she had put a handkerchief beside the doll's 
head in such a way as to protect its eyes from the light. In 
a few minutes a child out-of-doors cried. Louise said, " Lis- 
ten ! " She turned her head a little on one side as if listen- 
ing, and after a moment said, half to herself, " No, 'tain't 
Dolly, no!" 

286. May. Age, 3 years, 6 months. May was in the 
room with a person who was ironing. She amused herself for 
more than an hour rubbing a cold flatiron over an old dress. 

287. Willie. Age, 3 years, 6 months. While my mother 
was washing she was called out of the room. While she was 
absent, Willie put all his playthings in a tub of water. When 
asked why he did it, he said, " I want my things clean too." 

288. Alice. Age, 3 years, 6 months. Alice asked me a 
question which I did not understand. I asked, " What did 
you remark ? " She looked at me anxiously, but said nothing. 
About an hour after I asked her a question. She laughed, 
and said, " What did you merark ? What did you merark ? " 

289. Flora. Age, 3 years, 6 months. Annie and I were 
of the same age, and both had curls. We played we were 
barbers one day. I wanted to cut Annie's hair first, but she 
insisted, and I allowed her to cut mine. When she had cut 
about half my curls off I insisted on cutting hers ; but just as 
I was ready we were discovered. 

290. Willie. Age, 3 years, 6 months. Willie says his 
name is Dr. Hobart. He was playing with Nellie when she 
«i.i^ she had a headache. He ran home, and soon returned 



GROUP II. 49 

with three little packages of sugar done up in newspaper, and 
an empty bottle. He gave her the packages, and said, " Here 
are some powders ; you can take one to-night and one in the 
morning. I will give you some medicine too," and handed her 
the bottle. 

291. Arthur. Age, 3 years, 6 months. Arthur put his 
whip in the end of his toy gun, and, putting the gun on his 
shoulder, marched about the room, making the sound " boom, 
boom" by blowing through his lips. He marched in good 
time, accenting with the left foot. He asked the persons 
present to say something about the torchlight procession. 

292. Mary. Age, 3 years, 6 months. Mary has lately 
taken a fancy to change her name, and does it frequently. 
She wishes to be called by the name she assumes. She is not 
well acquainted with me, and asked her mother to tell me 
that her name was Bill now. 

293. Mabel. Age, 3 years, 6 months. Willie was show- 
ing a book which he had received as a prize from his teacher. 
Mabel picked up an old magazine, and said, " See what my 
teacher gave me ! " 

294. Ralph. Age, 3 years, 7 months. Ralph picked up 
a piece of waste paper with a little printed matter on it, and 
read, " My papa goes to the office every morning, and I go to 
the office every morning." 

295. Charley. Age, 3 years, 8 months. Charley was 
drawing a paper box about the room by a string. The box 
contained half a dozen blocks of wood. He threw out three 
blocks to his sister, and said, " There, Ida, is three barrels of 
apples." He then began calling out, " Apples ! apples ! good 
pie-apples ! " 

296. Charley. Age, 3 years, 8 months. Charley placed 
a thimble on a block, and said, " Look, look ! here's Ida with- 
out any hands or feet." 



50 IMITATION. 

297. Avis. Age, 3 years, 8 months. Avis attended a 
funeral recently. Yesterday she said, " Now, Frankie, let's 
bury my doll. Thus, I put her in the coffin, and put the 
coffin in a box. Now we must get a rope to let the coffin 
down into the hole. Now I will shake some straw on top, 
and shovel on the dirt." She did all this by making gestures. 
She then made-believe pick flowers from the rug, saying, 
" I am putting flowers on the grave now." Frankie, Avho is 
five, watched her with great interest. 

298. James. Age, 3 years, 8 months. James went to 
ride. When he came home he asked me to look at him. He 
bent the trunk of his body forward, and scuffed backward. 
He said that was the way the horse did. 

299. Annie. Age, 3 years, 8 months. Annie often 
amuses her younger brother by " playing the piano " on a 
chair. She places a book before her, and occasionally turns 
the leaves. 

300. Mary. Age, 3 years, 8 months. Mary often re- 
peats at night to her sister what her mother has said to 
Arthur during the day : " Now, Arthur, you've been a good 
boy to-day. Come to mamma, Arthur ! What you doing, 
Arthur ? " and so on. 

301. Charley. Age, 3 years, 8 months. Charley has 
about a dozen blocks of wood of different sizes. He sat on 
the floor, and arranged them on a mat. When asked what he 
was doing, he said, " I'm fixing up a parlor for Ida's doll. 
This is a sofa, this a stove, and this is the organ. These are 
chairs and tables, and this is a new carpet," pointing to the 
mat. The blocks, to which he gave different names, were of 
the same color and shape, and sometimes of the same size. 

302. Charley. Age, 3 years, 8 months. Charley was 
sitting at the table playing with a block and a piece of a 



GROUP II. 51 

slate-frame. He was rubbing the frame across the block. 
He said he was cutting meat with his butcher-knife. 

303. Charley. Age, 3 years, 8 months. Charley was 
trying to nip off pieces of a block with scissors. He said he 
was cleaning a piece of ice as ice-men do. 

304. Charlie. Age, 3 years, 8 months. Charlie tied 
pieces of red flannel around the legs of his high-chair. His 
sister asked him why he did it. He said, " This isn't a chair ; 
this is a horse. He's got sore legs, poor fellow." 

305. Charlie. Age, 3 years, 8 months. Charlie was 
playing horse with two chairs. He struck and kicked one 
chair, saying, " See here, old horse, if you don't stop that 
jumping I'll kick you again. Why can't you go along like 
Jenny ? " 

306. James. Age, 3 years, 8 months. James came to me 
with a little account-book, and asked if I wanted some sugar. 
I said " Yes." He went away, and came back holding out his 
hand as if he had something in it. He said, " Here's your 
sugar ! " I thanked him ; and he said, " Give me some 
money ? " I made-believe do so ; and he went through the 
motions of putting it in his pocket, and giving me change. 
He then made a mark in the account-book. 

307. Willie. Age, 3 years, 9 months. Willie went to 
an auction-room with his father. The next day he held up 
a jacket, and said to the servant girl, "Take it, Lillie, for 
thirty cents. There it goes for thirty cents." 

308. Mabel. Age, 3 years, 9 months. Mabel often asks 
me to tell her a story, and after I have done so she repeats it. 
In her version of the story some person always has on two 
gold rings, though I have never mentioned rings. 

309. Mildred. Age, 3 years, 10 months. Yesterday the 
teacher in the kindergarten put a block on Edmund's head 



52 IMITATION. 

when the children were marching. This morning Mildred 
put her luncheon-basket on her head as she was coming to 
school, and remarked that the teacher had put a block on 
Edmund's head the day before. 

310. Mart. Age, 3 years, 10 months. Mary has seen 
me hold a letter before the fire to dry the ink. This morn- 
ing she washed her slate, on which she had been writing, and 
held it up to the stove, although there was no fire. She ap- 
peared perfectly satisfied when she took it away, although it 
was just as wet as ever. 

311. James. Age, 3 years, 10 months. James was play- 
ing with buttons. I went out, and brought in some coal. He 
at -once filled one of his rubbers with buttons, and asked me 
if I wanted any coal to-day. He played this for about half 
an hour. 

312. Mary. Age, 3 years, 10 months. Mary sat on the 
floor playing with a basket which contained some flowers. 
She talked to herself in an assumed voice. I caught words 
and phrases like these: "Pretty fine!" "'Want some?" 

" Well, you see, Mrs. " " Better have — ." Sometimes 

she raised her voice, and appeared to be imitating the calls of 
street peddlers. For ten minutes she did not use her natural 
voice. 

313. Mildred. Age, 3 years, 10 months. Mildred 
wanted to walk in the road. She said she could not talk 
because she was a horse. She wished me to take hold of her 
cloak and drive her. 

314. Anna. Age, 3 years, 11 months. 
Anna. Let's play Miss Jimmy Jones. 
I. Who will be Miss Jones ? 

Anna. You be. I'll come to see you. [After a moment's 
pause], I come to see Miss Jimmy Jones 5 how is she to-day ? 
I. She's very well. 



GROUP II. L„ 

Anna. No ! say she's washing ; she can't see you to-day. 

I repeated this, and she came again. I gave a new excuse 
each time she came, as, " She's ironing," " She's cooking," etc. 
Anna talked in a sing-song tone all the time. At length she 
said, " Say ' Miss Jimmy Jones is dead ; she can't see you 
to-day.' " 

315. Harlan. Age, 3 years, 11 months. Harlan ran 
about the house, saying, " I'm a big lion," and making a roar- 
ing noise. 

316. Charlie. Age, 3 years, 11 months. Charlie put 
the broom handle through one handle of the clothes-basket, 
and a stick about as long as the broom through the other. He 
got into the basket, and, taking hold of the broom handle and 
stick, made motions somewhat like rowing. He talked to him- 
self, and I heard the word "boat." He has seen a man row- 
ing a boat, perhaps three times. 

317. Philip. Age, 3 years, 11 months. Somebody said 
a cat was in the dooryard. After a few minutes Philip said, 
" Mamma, I just thought I saw lots of cats out in the yard 
once. I thinked, and thinked, and wasn't it funny ? I 
thinked of the cats." 

318. James. Age, 3 years, 11 months. James twisted 
one end of a shoestring into the trimming of his dress, and 
put the other end in his pocket. When asked what time it 
was he pulled the end from his pocket, looked at it, then 
looked at the clock, and replied. 

319. James. Age, 3 years, 11 months. When I sit down 
to study, James often asks for a book to study his lesson. 
He continues to " study " ten or fifteen minutes. 

320. James. Age, 3 years, 11 months. The hair on 
Bingo's head looked very disorderly, and I supposed he had 
been fighting. Several times when he came near me I scolded 



54 IMITATION. 

him for liis looks, and sent him away. James heard this, but 
said nothing. Two days after I first observed it my father 
looked at it more carefully, and saw that the hair must have 
been cut. James was asked, and admitted that he did it. 
He said he was playing be a barber. His hair had been cut 
by a barber just before. 



GROUP III. 55 



GROUP III. 

Ages between 4 and 5. 



321. Thompson. Age, 4 years. I heard Thompson run- 
ning in and out of the yard early in the morning, and saying 
to himself, " Whoa ! Get up ! " I then heard his mother 
call him to breakfast. Instead of coming in he said, " I ain't 
him; I'm a horse!" His mother called him again, and he 
said, " I ain't me, mamma ; I'm a horse ! " 

322. Cora. Age, 4 years. My mother was reading the 
newspaper. Cora took a paper from the table, looked at it, 
and moved her lips as if reading. 

323. Cora. Age, 4 years. Theresa was saying her pray- 
ers. Cora knelt beside her, and folded her hands. She re- 
mained in this position for perhaps three minutes. 

324. Carrie. Age, 4 years. I was drawing, and held up 
my pencil to measure a leaf. Carrie put up her finger, and 
tried to shut one eye, as I had done. 

325. May. Age, about 4 years. May climbed up in the 
pantry to get some water, and spilled it into a bucket of 
sugar. She was found stirring it, and, when asked, said she 
was making bread. 

326. Eddie. Age, about 4 years. Eddie was eating a 
cracker. He saw Charlie eating a piece of bread, and at once 
threw away the cracker, and asked for a piece of bread. 

327. Harry. Age, 4 years. Harry carried his chair on 
his back, and said, " I'm a coal-man." 



56 IMITATION. 

328. George. Age, 4 years. George stretched some rub- 
ber bands over a box-cover, and snapped them with his finger. 
He said, "This is a harp." 

329. Two Children. Age, about 4 years. In the chil- 
dren's class, after the children had taken a " nap," the teacher 
asked if any one dreamed. One child said she dreamed the 
teachers were sick, and not at school. The next child said 
the same thing. 

330. Unknown. Age, about 4 years. This morning I 
was picking up autumn leaves in the street. A little girl saw 
me, and began to pick up leaves. 

331. Florence. Age, 4 years. Florence drew the piano- 
stool up to a chair, and made-believe set the table, though she 
put nothing upon it. She put her head through the back of 
the chair, and called, " Flossie, come right in this minute ; now 
mind ! " She made-believe shut the window, and, sitting 
down at the table, made-believe eat heartily. Supper over, 
she went to the side of the piano, and pumped a pail of water. 
She got down on her knees, and went through the motions of 
washing the floor. The whole play not occupying more than 
three minutes. 

332. Unknown. Age, about 4 years. This boy was 
playing in the gutter near where a fence was being built. He 
had a shaving over each eye, fastened by being stuck under 
Lis cap. In his hand he had a block of wood, which he was 
moving along on the ground as if planing a board. 

333. Joseph. Age, 4 years. Joseph had some stones in 
a canvas bag, and went about the house crying, " Rags, bottles, 
rubbers." 

334. Harlan. Age, 4 years. Harlan was afraid his 
little sister would touch his clay spheres and cylinders while 
he went to the other side of the room. He said to me, 



GROUP III. 57 

"You keep saying -No, no, no,' to the baby till I come 
back." 

335. Clarence. Age, about 4 years. Clarence, hearing 
his father say " good-day "to me, said, " good-day." 

336. Susie. Age, 4 years. Susie's bonnet was already 
tied. She saw a girl tying the strings of her sister's bon- 
net, and immediately untied her own. 

337. Mildred. Age, 4 years. Howard. Age, 3 years. 
Mildred took my hand, and turned to walk backwards in 
such a way that my arm was over her head. Howard im- 
mediately did the same thing. They said they had umbrellas 
over their heads. 

338. Edward. Age, 4 years. Louise. Age, 3 years. 
When the baby cried, Lucy sometimes walked about the 
room with her. One day Edward followed with a baby 
made of the baby's blanket rolled up, and Louise followed 
him with her doll. All sang. 

339. Harry. Age, 4 years. I walked to school this 
morning with Harry. It rained ; and I told him he had better 
open his umbrella, which he did. It soon stopped raining ; 
and I said, "You had better shut your umbrella." — "I don't 
want to," he said. I then shut my umbrella, and he did the 
same without saying a word. 

340. Phcsbe. Age, 4 years. Mrs. B said to Phoebe's 

mother, " I always take off my wrap in the cars. I can't bear 
to keep it on, it makes me so uncomfortable." Phoebe took 
her doll's cloak off. Her mother asked her why she did so ; 
and she replied, " My dollie can't bear to keep her wrap on in 
the cars." 

341. Edwin. Age, 4 years. They have been blasting 
rocks in our neighborhood for a week. I saw Edwin heap- 
ing up sand, and asked him what he was doing. " I'm making 



58 IMITATION. 

a house," he said. "Then what are you going to do?" — 
" I'm going to blast it." — " But you'll break it ! " — l( I mashed 
one house." 

342. Alice. Age, about 4 years. This morning I saw 
Alice strutting behind a hen, with her head stuck out as if 
imitating a hen. 

343. Theo. Age, 4 years. Theo's mother often sets her 
down hard in a chair, and says something like, " Now, you 
sit there ! " Theo went into a room all alone, and sat down 
hard on a chair, and said in a scolding tone, " There, you set 
yourself there in that chair and stay there ! " 

344. Harry. Age, 4 years. Harry was amusing himself 
by swinging on a door. I began to say slowly, " Every place 
Moll-gal walkee, baa-baa hoppee long too," and more of the 
same kind. Harry looked at me in astonishment, and came 
and stood beside me. I said nothing to him, but repeated the 
jargon over and over. He soon began to say the words ; and I 
continued to say them, but with pauses, that he might follow 
me if he chose. In fifteen minutes he had learned the whole, 
and neither of us had spoken to the other. His mother says 
he repeats this frequently. 

345. Edward. Age, about 4 years. An apple-seed got 

under the plate of Mrs. B 's false teeth, and she took them 

out to remove it. Edward observed her, but said nothing. 
He soon went into a corner, and tried to pull out his own 
teeth. 

346. Winifred. Age, about 4 years. When I was 
about four and my brother about five we went to a picnic 
where some of the children fished in a pond. After this we 
picked up in the woodshed chips shaped somewhat like fish, 
and put them on the piazza. My brother had a short pole, 
and a real hook on the line. He stood on the ground, and 



GROUP III. 59 

swung the hook up on the piazza, where I fastened a chip to 
it. If the chip did not fall off before he drew it to himself 
there was great rejoicing. 

347. Robbie. Age, 4 years. Playing bear means to 
Robbie getting down on his hands and knees, growling, and 
seizing all the boots and shoes he can anywhere find. He 
asked me to play bear with him, and pointed to a pair of 
boots, saying, " Those are the beasts ; we'll kill 'em.'' 

348. Walter. Age, about 4 years. I met Walter in the 
street with a stick in his hand and a red and white cloth pen- 
wiper pinned on his overcoat. He said, " I'm going to the 
police-office. I'm a policeman ; don't you see my badge and 
billy ? " 

349. Mary. Age, 4 years. I saw Mary walking up and 
down the yard dressed in her mother's hat and shawl, and 
carrying a burdock leaf for a parasol. 

350. Reuben. Age, 4 years. Reuben had been watching 
some boys fly a kite. He went into the house, and got a white 
apron which had long strings. He took hold of one of the 
strings, held it up as high as he could, and then ran as the 
boys had done. 

351. John. Age, about 4 years. John said his pigeons 
saw lots of guns. Four or five other children said their 
pigeons saw guns. 

352. Charles. Age, 4 years. Willie. Age, 2 years. 

Mrs. M found Charles and Willie in her room, Charles 

with his father's hat on and an umbrella in his hand. Willie 
had on his mother's bonnet and a veil. She asked what they 
were playing. Charles said he was Dr. Tom, and Willie was 
Dr. Mary. Willie had been sick a few days before, and a 
doctor had been called whose name is Thomas. 



60 IMITATION. 

353. Several Children. Age, about 4 years. A little 
girl in the children's class pointed to a blue lily among some 
white ones, and said, " Oh ! " in a prolonged tone. A moment 
later the two children nearest her pointed to the lily, and 
said, " Oh ! " in the same pitch and with the same force and 
length as the first. 

354. Flora. Age, 4 years. I had seen a picture of a 
child holding a primer before a dog, and pointing to A, B, C. 
I made my brother's dog sit up while I held a book before 
him, and made-believe teach him to read. 

355. Dennis. Age, 4 years. I was singing. Dennis 
took a book, and, holding it upside down, hummed something 
which I did not understand. 

356. Harris. Age, 4 years. Harris's mother took him 
to the barber's to have his hair cut. The next day she found 
him trying to cut the dog's hair with a toy gun. The dog 
was in a chair. 

357. Thomas. Age, 4 years. I have seen Thomas go to 
the railroad crossing several times in the evening, and swing 
his hat as the flagman does a lantern. A flag is used in the 
daytime, but I have never seen Thomas go there except in 
the evening. 

358. Frank. Age, 4 years. Willie. Age, 3 years, 6 
months. Frank went to a Christmas-tree. A month after 
this I saw him and Willie put pieces of frozen snow on the 
lower branches of a pear-tree. It often fell off, but they were 
not discouraged. When they had used all the branches they 
could reach they distributed the " presents." Frank took 
them from the tree, while Willie sat on his sled. As he took 
each piece from the tree he looked on all sides of it as if for 
a name, and gave the pieces alternately to Willie and himself. 
They placed the " presents " on a sled. 



GROUP III. 61 

359. Several Children. Age, about 4 years. In the 
children's class John said that his pigeons saw Chub (his 
dog). Three children who answered after he did said their 
pigeons saw Chub. 

360. Charlie. Age, 4 years. Charlie's father is in the 
habit of asking a blessing at the table. One evening the 
father was late, and the family sat down before he came. 
Charlie said, " Mamma, I'll say Goddie." 

361. Edna and Mary. Age, about 4 years. I was 
helping Edna put on her cloak. She said, " Say, what do 
you suppose Santa Claus is going to bring me ? Well, he's 
going to bring me a pony pump." Mary said, " He brings 
Sunday dishes and e very-day dishes." — "Yes," said Edna, 
" he's going to bring me Sunday dishes and every-day dishes." 

— " Yes," said Mary, " and he's going to bring Mr. E • 

[the principal of the school] Sunday dishes and every-day 
dishes." 

362. May. Age, about 4 years. May speaks of her 
father as Bradish ; but when she speaks to him, says papa. 

363. Lily. Age, about 4 years. Lily's banana fell out 
of her basket twice. She said, " If you fall out again I'll 
slap your face." 

364. Unknown. Age, about 4 years. I saw two little 
boys floating pieces of wood in the gutter while it rained, and 
speaking of their boats. 

365. Unknown. Age, about 4 years. Two little boys 
spent about ten minutes scattering dirt on the sidewalk. 
They said it was slippery, and they must put on sand so 
that people would not fall down. 

366. Unknown. Age, about 4 years. A little boy, hold- 
ing a banana in his hand, pointed it at another boy, and 
made-believe shoot him. 



62 IMITATION. 

367. Unknown. I saw a small boy walking lame. He 
had his left hand on his hip, and used a stick in his right 
hand. He was not lame. 

368. Daisy. Age, 4 years. Daisy buried her doll. She 
raised her apron to her eyes, though she was not crying. 
After a few minutes she took the doll from the burial-place, 
and resumed playing house. 

369. Edmund. Age, about 4 years. When the flags 
were distributed to the children in the children's class, Ed- 
mund held his out horizontally, and said, " See the flag up 
there hanging out of the window." 

370. Howard. Age, 4 years. Howard picked up a stick, 
and said, " I'm going a-fishing ; I'm going to get some whales." 

371. Ada. Age, 4 years. Ada and Thannie were play- 
ing do the washing. Thannie sat down ; and Ada said, " You 
can't sit down, Mrs. Carney, till the washing's all done." 

372. Theresa. Age, 4 years. Theresa holds an open 
book before her, and talks rapidly about boys, girls, dogs, etc. 
If she is interrupted she says, " Don't ! I am reading a story." 

373. Several Children. Ages, 3 and 4 years. The 
teacher told the story of " Jack and His Beanstalk." After- 
wards, when the children were told to make something with 
their cubes, one made a beanstalk, another the house of Jack's 
mother, etc. 

374. Charlotte. Age, 4 years. Charlotte put on her 
sister's hat and her mother's veil and gloves, and came to call 
on her mother and me. We were sitting in a room with two 
doors. Charlotte planned that one door should be her moth- 
er's, and one mine. She knocked at her mother's door, and 
waited until her mother went to the door to welcome her 
and shake hands. 



GROUP III. 63 

Charlotte. I thought I would call on you. Are the chil- 
dren all well ? 

Mrs. F. Yes, thank you ! Are your children at school ? 

Charlotte. No ; it is vacation. 

Mrs. F. Where did you leave your children ? 

Charlotte. At home. Baby sent his love to your baby. 
I guess I had better go now. My name is Miss Hobbs. 

She then called on me, and continued the play for half an 
hour. 

375. Howard and Richard. Age, about 4 years. How- 
ard and Richard put their lunch-baskets on their backs, and, 
bending over, walked very slowly. I expressed sympathy for 
the poor old men, and offered to carry their heavy loads, upon 
which they straightened up, and ran and jumped, saying they 
were horses. 

376. Bertie. Age, 4 years. Bertie tied a string around 
his head, and, going to his sister, said, "Ain't this bonnet 
'coming to me ? " 

377. Mary. Age, 4 years. Mary had a pasteboard box 
and a knife. She drew the knife across the box, first from 
side to side, then from end to end. She said she was cutting 
a pie. 

378. Etta. Age, about 4 years. I used to hang a button- 
hook on my under lip. I thought it looked like a beard. 

379. Alice. Age, 4 years. Alice was standing on the 
edge of the piazza with a chain in her hand. She dropped 
the chain until the end touched the ground, and then drew it 
up, saying, " See all the fish I'm getting." 

380. Harlan. Age, 4 years. Harlan filled the bath-tub 
a third full of water, and put a grape-basket in it. He said 
the water was a lake, and the basket a sailboat. 



64 IMITATION. 

381. Edgar. Age, 4 years. Edgar scraped the putty off 
a window where a pane had just been set, and rolled it into 
small balls. He gave the balls to two other children, and told 
them they were pills. 

382. Several Children. Age, about 4 years. In the 
marching exercise one couple fell out of step. The next three 
couples, who were previously keeping step, fell out also. 

383. Several Children. Age, about 4 years. In the 
children's class a game was played in which two children 
stood on chairs, and joined hands to make a bridge for the 
others to pass under. When the teacher passed under she 
stooped. Three of the children that followed her stooped 
also. 

384. Bertha. Age, 3 years. Ella. Age, 4 years. When 
Bertha and Ella have made mud-pies, and baked them in the 
sun, they put them into a toy wagon, and go about to sell 
them. 

385. Mary. Age, 4 years. Joe was sitting in a high- 
chair, looking at a book. Mary came behind him with the 
large scissors, and cut one of his curls off. When stopped 
she said, " I wasn't doing nothing but playing barber." 

386. Florence. Age, 4 years. Florence and several 
other children were playing " house." Florence called Willie 
to her, and said, " Now, Willie, be a good boy ; put your foot- 
ball down, and go to the store for mamma." 

387. Grace. Age, 4 years. Grace sets her kitten up- 
right in her lap, and rocks it, sings to it, trots it, and pats it. 
She cannot be persuaded to hold it in any other way. 

388. Harry. Age, 4 years. Harry was looking at a 
picture of a boy and girl picking grapes. " These are my 
grapes," he said, pointing to a particular bunch. " No, those 
are mine," I said; "you take another bunch." He did so, 



GROUP III. 65 

and asked if I wanted mine. He then made the motions of 
picking them, and giving them to me. " Now eat 'em," he said. 

389. Laura. Age, 4 years. Laura amused herself with 
an egg-beater. Resting it on the table, she tried to turn the 
wheel, but could not do so satisfactorily. She then treated it 
as if it were a naughty child, asking it if it would be good, 
and striking it. Her dress was caught in it ; and she said, 
" Don't you pull my dress again or you'll be punished." 

390. Roy and Eosie. Age, about 4 years. Roy and 
Rosie were playing in some sand. They seemed to be mak- 
ing-believe that they were on opposite sides of some body of 
water, and although they could almost touch one another 
they shouted as if they were far apart. Once, when Roy 
jumped off the box on which he had been sitting, Rosie said, 
"Oh, you're in the water!" — "Well, I don't care," said 
Roy ; ' play I've got on rubber boots ; play I'm a big man." 

391. Gertrude. Age, 4 years. Gertrude was standing 
before an easel blackboard singing do, re, fa, etc., and after 
each note sung making a short vertical line at the lower edge 
of the blackboard. She said she was making a new piano. 

392. Willie. Age, 4 years. Willie brought a clothes- 
basket and a saw-horse, and put them near a hitching-post. 
The saw-horse was so heavy that it took him a long time to 
move it a short distance. He sat in the basket, and was very 
merry. He said he was going to Worcester. 

393. Brown. Age, 4 years. I saw Brown sitting in his 
wagon, to which he had attached two rocking-horses. He 
whipped them, and called out to them as to real horses. 

394. George. Age, about 4 years. While George was 
in a store he saw a man use the telephone. The next day I 
saw him hold a small round stick up to his ear and say, 
" Hullo ! all right, sugar, good-by." 



66 IMITATION. 

395. Annie. Age, 4 years. Annie was walking along by 
a picket fence. She dropped a piece of paper between two 
pickets, and said, " I have mailed a letter." 

396. Willie. Age, 4 years. Willie places a chair in a 
corner of the room for a pulpit, gets the largest book he can 
find for a Bible, and goes through the forms of a church ser- 
vice quite accurately. 

397. Harry. Age, 4 years. Harry carried his chair on 
his back, and said, " I'm a coal-man." 

398. Nellie and Edward. Age, 4 years. ■ Nellie and 
Edward each had a branch of an oak-tree, which they carried 
over their heads as umbrellas. Presently they used them as 
brooms to sweep the sidewalk. 

399. James. Age, 4 years. James tied one end of a 
string to the piazza railing, and the other end to a chair. He 
called this a hammock. 

400. Bessie. Age, 4 years. Bessie was digging in the 
snow. Her cloak was unbuttoned and flying open. I said, 
" Why, Bessie ! why don't you button up your cloak ? " She 
answered, " Why, don't you see, I'se working like a man, and 
mans has their coats unbuttoned." 

401. Molly. Age, 4 years. Molly came into the room 
with her cloak held over her shoulder as if she were carrying 
a bag on her back, and crying, " Bags ! bottles ! rags ! 
bottles ! " 

402. Myra. Age, 4 years. Myra's grandmother came to 
see her last week. She had a cap on, and a small shawl on 
her shoulders. After she went home, Myra put a handker- 
chief on her head, and put her mother's shawl on. She was 
playing with her doll, and said, " Ruth, I am your grand- 
mother, and you must be good." 



GROUP III. 67 

403. Willie. Age, 4 years. Willie was given a bunch 
of colored cards, and played " letter-man " with them. No 
one gave any attention to him ; and he walked about the room, 
saying, " Four cents a quart, letters." He asked me twice 
where I lived, and then repeated, "Four cents a quart, letters," 
whenever he gave me any letters. 

404. Daisy. Age, 4 years. Daisy made a little enclosure 
in a corner of the room by means of chairs, which she called 
her house. She was a nurse, and the doll was sick. An ima- 
ginary doctor was present a part of the time, and she conversed 
with him about the sickness. After about twenty minutes 
the house became a schoolroom, and she was a teacher. 

405. Harold. Age, 4 years. Ethel. Age, 2 years, 6 
months. Harold and Ethel were walking with their mother. 
Harold said, " Now I am going to be a bear, and this is my 
house." As he said this he lifted his mother's fur-lined cir- 
cular cloak, and covered his head and shoulders. " Now, 
Ethel, when I come out you must run, 'cause if you don't I 
shall eat you up." He then made a noise which sounded like 
boo, boo. In a few seconds he lifted the cloak, and ran after 
Ethel, making the same sound. Ethel ran screaming. 

406. Daisy. Age, 4 years. Daisy holds the doll on the 
piano stool with one hand, and plays with the other. She 
says she is the music-teacher, and the doll her pupil. 

407. Lucie. Age, 4 years, 3 months, Willard. Age, 3 
years. 

Willard. I want to play somebody. 
Lucie. I will be Stella. 
Willard. And I will be Stella. 
Lucie. You can't be Stella. I am Stella. 
Willard. Guess there's more than one Stella, and I'm 
her. 



68 IMITATION. 

408. John. Age, 4 years. Dennis. Age, 2 years, 6 
months. John and Dennis made a furrow on some ploughed 
ground for a railroad-track. It extended to a gate, which 
they called " Soufbridge." Dennis ran along the track, mak- 
ing a sound like a whistle, and saying, "Ding, ding," until he 
came to the end, when he made a puffing sound. John ran in 
front of him, and he called out, " Get out de way, Johnnie ; 
de engine will kill oo." He then ran off the track, and John 
said, " Don't get off the track ; engines don't get off the track." 

409. Roy. Age, 4 years. Roy said, "We are going to 
have a turkey for dinner to-morrow. My papa brought it 
home to-day ; and he cut off the feet, and I wanted them, but 
he wouldn't let me have them." I asked what he wanted to 
do with them. " Oh, I would put them on my feet, and then 
I'd be a chicken." After a pause he added, " Perhaps the 
butcher would bring me up-stairs, and then they'd cook me 
and eat me." 

410. Lucie. Age, 4 years, 1 month. Willard. Age, 
3 years, 11 months. 

Willard. I'm Uncle Dan ! 

Lucie. I'm grandma ! 

Willard. No, you be Aunt Lou, if I'm Uncle Dan. 

Lucie. No, I'll be Aunt Josie. 

Willard. If you won't be Aunt Lou, you cannot ride with 
my Prince. 

Lucie. Well, I'll be Aunt Lou, and you must say [call] 
me Aunt Lou, and I'll say you Uncle Dan. 

Willard. Aunt Lou, let's go and see mamma. 

Lucie. Yes, we'll go ; and I choose to wrap up my doll, 
and ring the bell and drive. 

Willard. You cannot do it all. I'll do some. 

Lucie. You drive, then. 

Willard. Why don't you say Uncle Dan ? Say, Lucie, 



GROUP III. 69 

let's have a party, and ask mamma for some cake and 
cookies. 

Lucie. Yes ; and I choose to be the mother, and set the 
table. 

Willard. Don't you eat it all. 

Lucie. No. Now you ask mamma. Make-believe you 
are going to the store. 

Willard went and got the cake, while Lucie set the table. 

Lucie. Hurry, Willard. 

Willard. I'm coming. 

Lucie. Now, Willard, you be my little boy, and you must 
have a little piece. 

Willard. No, sir ! I'se the father, so I has it all but 
just a little tiny-bit piece. 

411. Ted. Age, 4 years, 1 month. Ted made a camera 
out of a peach-crate. He placed it on end, and put three 
sticks against it for legs. Then he put his horse in front of 
it. He found a picture that looked like his horse, and put it 
between the slats of the crate. He put an apron over his 
head, and " took the picture," as he said. When it was taken, 
he pulled out the picture, and showed it to me. 

412. Bennie. Age, 4 years, 2 months. I observed 
Bennie holding himself very stiff, and walking with short, 
quicK steps. He was saying in a sing-song tone, very loud, 
"Ding-dong, ding-dong," accenting the "ding." Presently he 
stopped with a little jerk, and commenced hissing very loud. 
He then " backed, " making a gruff, grunting sound. He did 
this, his mother told me, after having been in a railroad 
station, where he saw an engine and cars for the first time. 

413. Charlie. Age, 4 years, 2 months. During the 
forenoon we had been playing visit different places in the 
United States, and calling the hammock the cars, or a steam- 
boat, as we needed. Charlie's sister said we must take differ- 



70 IMITATION. 

ent names, and told him lie might be Grover Cleveland. At 
dinner Charlie was addressed by his name, but did not reply. 
He was reproved, and then said that his name was not Charlie, 
but Grover Cleveland. All the afternoon he insisted on being 
called by his new name, although we did not play the game 
we did in the morning. 

414. Hugh. Age, 4 years, 2 months. Hugh's father is a 
teamster who drives to several towns. Hugh has reins, which 
he fastens to chairs, a whip, and a bill-book. He plays that 
he goes to the same towns that his father does. He keeps an 
account of the places he must go to in this kind of writing, 
nu nu mm mit mu mu. He has played this for more than a 
year. 

415. Charles. Age, 4 years, 2 months. I saw Charles 
chipping off pieces of a block of wood with a screwdriver. 
He was saying, " Fifty pounds ? All right ; I'll bring it up." 
He was playing ice-man. 

416. Ted. Age, 4 years, 2 months. Ted said to me, " I've 
been teaching school out in the carriage-house." — "What have 
you been teaching ? " I asked. " I've been teaching the bar- 
rels to hold apples," he replied. 

417. Ted. Age, 4 years, 3 months. I heard Ted say, 
" I've got some skates." I looked, and saw that he had tied 
a square piece of brown paper around each foot with a white 
thread. 

418. Henry. Age, 4 years, 3 months. Henry took his 
rocking-horse into the yard, and spent about twenty minutes 
brushing and cleaning it. He talked to it while cleaning it as 
if it were a real horse. 

419. George. Age, about 4 years. A class were prac- 
tising gymnastics. After looking at them a few minutes, 
George rose, and began to imitate their movements. When he 



GROUP III. 71 

saw that people were looking at him he hid his face in his 
mother's lap. 

420. Mildred. Age, 4 years, 4 months. Mildred played 
horse, and hitched her horse by tying a shoestring to the 
handle of the washtub. Some time afterwards, seeing the 
string hanging there, she put the end of it to her mouth, and 
talked as if through a telephone. She ordered a pound of 
sugar and a pound of cabbages. She then put the end of the 
string to her ear and said, " All right ! " 

421. Mildred. Age, 4 years, 4 months. Mildred plays 
that she is a baby, usually just before going to bed. She 
talks baby-talk, holds on to a chair, tumbles down, and 
sometimes makes-believe cry. Sometimes when she has 
played this at night she begins it as soon as she wakes in 
the morning. 

422. Mary. Age, 4 years, 4 months. Mary walked 
about the room with a paper bag on her head, crying, " Any 
rags, tin boxes, tin books, tin mats ? Any cups, any tin but- 
tons ? " etc. She seemed to name whatever she saw, but pre- 
fixed the word " tin." 

423. Mildred. Age, 4 years, 4 months. Mildred plays 
that the sewing-machine is an engine, she the engineer, and 
Jim (an imaginary person) the fireman. She starts the 
engine by turning up the handles of the drawers, and stops it 
by turning them down. She says, " Ding-dong " as a signal 
to start, and usually calls, " All aboard ! " She gives orders 
to the fireman like this : " We'll start in five minutes, Jim ! " 
" It is five minutes, Jim, so now we'll start ! " " All ready 
there, Jim ! " The play consists in starting and stopping, and 
in polishing the engine with a cloth. 

424. Willie. Age, 4 years, 5 months. Willie saw some 
men painting a house, and when he came home took a dipper 
of water and a clothes-brush, and attempted to paint. 



72 IMITATION. 

425. Grace. Age, 4 years, 5 months. Grace was sitting 
in the next room singing, and rocking her kitty to sleep. She 
was making up the words and the tune. 

426. George. Age, 4 years, 5 months. George saw a 
drunken man staggering in the street, and told of it when he 

came home. The next day he met his uncle, Mr. E , in 

the street, and said, " Hullo, Uncle Ben ! make-believe I'm a 

drunken man, and you are taking me home." Mr. E 

demurred ; lout George insisted, " yes ! only make-believe ! " 

Mr. E ■ took hold of his hand. " No ! don't take hold of 

my hand ; take my arm." George staggered and fell down. 
His aunt saw him, and looked displeased. He said, "Oh, 
never mind, Aunt L ! I'm only making-believe." 

427. Willie. Age, 4 years, 5 months. I went to Willie's 
house for a jacket, which was wrapped in a paper and given to 
me. Willie asked for a piece of paper, made a few marks on it, 
and handed it to me, saying, " Here's your bill." I took it, and 
he said, " You must pay it." — "I have no money," I replied. 
" Well, like this," he said, and put my hand in his, and made 
the motions of receiving something, then said, " Thank you." 

428. Willie. Age, 4 years, 5 months. Willie saw men 
laying a pipe in the street. He found a piece of pipe, dug a 
hole with his shovel, and put the pipe in. He asked if we did 
not want him to make one for us. 

429. Avis. Age, 4 years, 5 months. Avis has been to 
church several times. Her mother drew the bed out from the 
wall before making it. Avis went into the space between the 
bed and the wall, placed her hand on the bedstead, and bowed, 
then passed along and knelt down. 

430. George. Age, 4 years, 6 months. George had 
watched my father shave with great interest. One day when 
he was playing with some pine-needles, he suddenly left his 



GROUP III. 73 

play, got a tumbler of water, a cake of soap, and a table-knife. 
He looked at the looking-glasses, but they were all too high. 
He then went to a window darkened by a closed blind, and 
placed the tumbler and soap on the window-sill. Using the 
pine-needles for a brush, he rubbed the soap and water on his 
face, and then passed the knife over his forehead, nose, lips, 
and cheeks. Presently he came to me, and said, " See, I've 
shaved my mustache." Then rubbing his hand over his face, 
" There isn't much left ; just a little bit of a mustache." I 
think he shaved as many as four times every day for two 
weeks, and then dropped it completely. 

431. Grace. Age, 4 years, 6 months. Grace went into 
her mother's bedroom one day, and was gone quite a long 
time. When she came out her face was covered with toilet- 
powder. When her mother exclaimed at her, she said, " Well, 
mamma, I guess I want to look pretty as well as you." 

432. Edxa. Age, 4 years, G months. Edna was sitting by 
the dressing-room register to dry her sleeves. The other chil- 
dren were laughing and playing in the schoolroom, but Edna 
could see them. When the fun reached a certain height she 
j umped from her chair, clapped her hands, and laughed aloud. 

433. Unknown. Age, about 4 years, 6 months. Three 
boys were kneeling on a step. A fourth was standing in 
front of them. He held a peppermint to the lips of each of 
the kneeling boys, then drew it back, and ate it himself. Not 
a word was said, but at the end they all laughed. 

434. George. Age, 4 years, 6 months. Our hired man 
has a deformed foot, and all his shoes for that foot turn 
upward after a few days' wearing. When walking he limps, 
and throws his shoulder up as if he were walking on tiptoe. 
One night when my mother took off George's shoes she no- 
ticed that the toe of one of them turned up. She found in it 



74 IMITATION. 

strings, bits of cloth and cotton. She asked what it meant ; 
and George said, " Why, Stickney's foot turns up, and I want 
mine to." After this George was seen to take off his shoe 
several times a day, and bend the toe upward. He followed 
the hired man about, imitating his gait as best he could. 

435. Ted. Age, 4 years, 6 months. Ted asked me to 
come up-stairs and see what he had given me for a present. 
It was a week after Christmas. He had put a small tool- 
chest that he had received at Christmas on a table near my 
bed, and beside it his sword for Sylvia, who sleeps with me. 
In my elder sister's clothespress he had put a pair of old 
slippers for her present. In one of the slippers he had placed 
a little pewter doll, but when I said it was a nice present he 
gave it to me. He put his fire-patrol wagon under Will's bed, 
and another present in my mother's shoe. To Alice he gave 
his horse, but got angry with her, and carried it into my room. 
He said these were Christmas presents, and we could keep 
them till morning. 

436. Ted. Age, 4 years, 6 months. While Ted was draw- 
ing on his stocking this morning he said, " This foot is going 
into its house. The stocking is the foot's house." 

437. Gladys. Age, 4 years, 6 months. Charlotte. 
Age, 2 years, 6 months. , When Gladys and Charlotte play, 
they often call each other Rose and Jane. At such times 
they do not like to have the members of the family address 
them by their right names. 

438. Ted. Age, 4 years, 7 months. Ted and Henry, who 
is about four, were seen playing in the snow. They were 
sticking a knife and a clothespin into a mound which they 
had made. On the next day I asked Ted what they were 
playing. " Oh, we played slaughter-house," he said. " We 
had a big pile of snow ; that was the pig. We cut his head 



GROUP III. 75 

off with a little bit of an old knife and a clothespin." I 
asked if he had ever seen a pig killed. "No," he said; "I 
just rode down with Will when he took our pig to the slaugh- 
ter-house. I just saw him take it into the slaughter-house. 
It most made my ear ache to hear that pig holler." 

439. Ted. Age, 4 years, 7 months. Lately Ted fre- 
quently repeats little jingles or doggerel. This morning he 
was repeating in a singing voice : — 

" Bananas and oranges are good to eat, 
They're awful sweet." 

440. Lulu. Age, 4 years, 8 months. " Come over here ; 
I want to show you something," Lulu said. I saw a mound 
surrounded with stones and covered with faded flowers. She 
said, " This is where I buried my chicken. I covered him 
with flowers, and oh, he looked so pretty and natural ! " 

441. Richard. Age, 4 years, 8 months. "When Richard 
was given his scissors in the children's class he held them up 
to his eye and said, " Bang ! " 

442. Winifred. Age, 4 years, 8 months. Winifred's 
brother was learning poetry to recite in school. She asked 
me to teach her some verses, and I did so. Later I heard her 
teaching her brother the selection. She said one line at a 
time, and had him repeat it after her. She held an open 
book, as if she Ave re reading. 

443. Katie. Age, 4 years, 8 months. Katie was stand- 
ing nails on their heads in the form of a hollow square. She 
put two nails in the centre. I asked her what she was mak- 
ing, and she said, " A fence." When she had finished this 
she said, " I am going to make one of those church things." 
I asked if she meant the altar rail, and she said, " Yes." 

444. Gertrude. Age, 4 years, 9 months. I saw Ger- 
trude holding a book open at a story that has been read to 



76 IMITATION. 

her a great many times. She was repeating as loud as she 
could as much of the story as she could remember, and supply- 
ing the rest. She looked at the page as if she were reading. 

445. Gertrude. Age, 4 years, 9 months. Gertrude 
plays an hour at a time making-believe wash. She has a tub 
and washboard, but uses no water. She hangs the clothes 
on a line, takes them down, sprinkles them, and folds them. 

446. Ted. Age, 4 years, 9 months. Ted rubbed some 
soap on his face with a wet sponge. He then shaved himself 
with a silver fruit-knife. He had seen Will shave. When 
we found him he said he was shaving. 

447. Lulu. Age, 4 years, 10 months. Lulu was in a 
pasture with me picking bill-berries. She was tired, and 
wanted to go home, but I was not ready. I told her to sit 
down in the shade and I would bend over a bush so that she 
could pick the berries from it. She did so, and said, " See, I 
am milking the cows, ain't I ? So, boss ! gentle, boss ! hi, 
there ! " (She spilled some berries.) " This cow kicked the 
pail over and spilled some milk." 

448. Lillian. Age, 4 years, 10 months. Lillian came up 
the walk bringing a lath pointed at one end, and another piece 
nailed across it, and swinging around on the longer piece. She 
said, "I have cut all the trees with this." As she passed she 
touched almost every shrub lightly, and said, " I cut that one." 

449. Winifred. Age, 4 years, 10 months. Winifred 
played school with several dolls. She spoke in a high key 
for the teacher, and a lower one for the pupils. 

450. Willie. Age, 4 years, 11 months. Willie saw the 
parade of the Continentals. He was playing with a flat stick, 
and asked for a piece of paper. He pinned the paper to the 
stick, and marched about the room, saying, " I'm a Conti- 
nental ! Bum, bum ! " He played this many times. 



GROUP IV. 77 



GROUP IV. 

Ages between 5 and 6. 



451. Frank. Age, 5 years. Frank carried an empty 
milk-can np the street, crying, "Two quart butter." 

452. Grace. Age, about 5 years. I used to take a book 
of any kind, set it up in the window, draw my chair to the 
window, and play on the window-sill as on a piano. I thought 
I must roll my body and head around, and make my arms go 
up and down, because I had seen people play who made a 
great fuss over it. I usually sang at the top of my voice all 
the time I was playing. 

453. Unknown. Age, about 5 or 6 years. This is what 
I saw three boys do. The largest boy had a spirally twisted 
wire, to each end of which was tied a brick. He held one 
brick in his left hand still, and the other brick he twisted 
round and round the first. He hummed all the time he did 
this. The other boys had on red and white caps. One had a 
piece of an old suspender hanging clown from under his coat 
at the back. The suspender was a little turned up at the end. 
The other had a piece of an iron hoop hanging in the same 
way. The " player " would grind a few minutes, and the 
" monkeys " would hop about and walk on their hands and 
feet. When the music stopped they would try to climb up 
the side of the house, holding out their caps. Some children 
in the window above dropped something into the caps. An 
organ-grinder and monkey had been about the day before. 



78 IMITATION. 

454. Several Boys. Age, about 5 years. On Decoration 
Day I saw four boys marching about the town to the music of 
a harmonica played by one of them, and drawing a small 
girl in a wagon. Strips of white cloth had been sewed on 
their trousers, and they wore newspaper caps well fringed. 

455. Willie. Age, 5 years. When Willie saw me after 
his first day at school, he said, " We have to do awful hard 
things at school. The teacher has a whole pile of shells and 
marbles, and she makes us say, ' Two shells and two shells.' 
And we have to stand like this." He then stood up straight, 
with his feet at right angles to each other, imitating the 
" position " of the physical exercise. 

456. Unknown. Age, about 4 or 5 years. Two boys 
were following a girl on the sidewalk, imitating her manner 
of walking. 

457. Margaret. Age, 5 years. When the responses are 
read at church Margaret opens a book, and when the congre- 
gation reads she looks on the book and moves her lips. 

458. Unknown. Age, about 5 years. I met a little boy 
this morning who was trying to put a book under his 
jacket. When he approached me he said, "That's where 
she keeps her books." 

459. John. Age, 5 years. John stood in an empty 
freight car turning the brakes round and round. Soon he 
walked to the other end of the car, moving his arms as brake- 
men do. 

460. Charlie. Age, about 5 years. A long procession of 
ponies and dogs passed, accompanied by a band of music. A 
few minutes later Charlie went into the house and brought 
out a flag. He said to his companion, " Get on my velocipede 
and follow me." The leader marched, keeping time and 
stamping on the ground. He led his follower through many 



GROUP IV. . 79 

difficult turns. At times he waved the flag, but most of the 
time he held it firmly against his right side, as drilled men 
often hold their guns. 

461. Bella. Age, 5 years. Delia played house with a 
smaller child. The house was a large mat spread in the yard. 
On one end was a box surrounded by four sticks laid in the 
form of a square. On the box were bits of broken glass and 
crockery arranged as on a table. This was the kitchen. Out- 
side this was the parlor. Delia, seated in her rocking-chair, 
was rocking her doll, singing and giving orders to the other 
child, who was busying herself with the dishes. I heard 
Delia say, " Oh, dear ! I want to go to that concert to-night, 
and I don't see how I can with seven children to take care of. 
I never saw such a man as my husband is, anyway. He 
isn't like any other man. He might take care of the baby 
once in a while anywaj^, I should think. Will you go with 
me if I go ?" They played this about an hour. 

462. Unknown. Age, about 5 years. I saw a boy in 
the street with a spool in his mouth, through which he Avas 
making a sound of " oo, oo, oo, oo." He scuffed with his feet, 
and sometimes went fast and sometimes slow. 

463. Zetta. Age, about 5 years. Zetta and a boy of 
about the same age were pounding pieces of brick to a pow- 
der, and putting it in a bottle of water. They said they were 
making cider. 

464. Frank. Age, 5 years. John. Age, 4 years, 3 
months. Frank and John played together for two days. 
Most of the time they were peddlers. Now and then I heard 
them arranging for a new game, but every game seemed to 
drift into buying and selling. 

465. Daisy and Arthur. Age, 5 years. Daisy had a 
string about her waist, and Arthur was driving her. 



80 IMITATION. 

Arthur. Go 'long, Daisy ! Wait ! I'll call you Dick. 

(The name of my father's horse.) 

Daisy. All right. 

Arthur. Hold on a minute, Daisy ! 

Daisy. Call me Dick ; that's my name now. But my real 
name is Daisy just the same, you know, but you must call me 
Dick. 

466. John. Age, about 5 years. A little boy in our 
neighborhood walks with crutches. I saw George with a 
stout stick under each arm, laboriously hopping along as the 
lame boy does. 

467. Eoscoe. Age, 5 years. Eoscoe amused himself for 
ten or fifteen minutes reading to me from the newspaper. 
What he said was not intelligible. He looked up occasion- 
ally with a chuckle much like that his father makes when 
pleased, and said, " That's pretty good ! " 

468. Katie. Age, 5 years. Katie teased me for a pencil, 
which I did not give her. At last she said, pointing to a bit 
of stick I had in my hand, " Well, make-believe that is a 
pencil, and give me half of it." I did so, and she used it to 
write with. 

469. Unknown. Age, about 5 years. Three boys were 
throwing black dirt at one another very briskly and with 
considerable force. When asked why they did this they said 
they were firing off cannon. 

470. Cecilia. Age, about 5 years. We used to make 
frosted cake by mixing flour and water, and spreading it on 
brown pasteboard. When the paste had dried we marked it 
in small squares. If we could not get flour we used white 
sand. 

471. Alice. Age, 5 years. Alice's grandmother is lame 
and takes snuff. I saw Alice walking about the yard limping 



GROUP IV. 81 

and taking snuff. She was bent over, and had her dress 
lifted at the side. 

472. Vera. Age, 5 years. Vera had a worsted ball the 
color of an orange. She placed the ball on the seat of a chair, 
and made motions as though cutting it, squeezed it, and then 
wiped the chair seat with her handkerchief. 

473. Helen. Age, 5 years. Helen looked at my pencil 
with interest. I said, " Can you write ? " and wrote her 
name. I then left the room. When I returned she had 
traced with the pencil what I had written. 

474. Louise. Age, 5 years. Josephine. Age, 3 years. 
Louise and Josephine were at the window when I passed. 
As I looked up Louise put up her hand as if to wave it to me, 
and then hesitated. I waved my hand, and she did the same. 
Josephine also waved hers. 

475. Anna. Age, about 5 years. When Anna is reproved 
for wrong-doing she looks sharply at the person reproving her. 
If the person smiles, she smiles. If he looks severe, she cries. 

476. Johnny. Age, 5 years. Sammy. Age, 3 years. 
Johnny and Sammy were playing store with nothing for 
money and nothing to sell. Johnny asked, " Do you want 
to buy anything to-day ?" — " Yes," said Sammy, " corn-beef 
and soap-bubbles." 

477. Ernest. Age, 5 years. Ernest said, " I would like 
to wear pants, and then I could have a pocket up here in my 
vest, and I would turn back my coat like this [turning back 
his cloak], and take out my long pencils and use them. Then 
I would stand them up in my pocket again, and put back my 
coat." 

478. Mildred. Age, about 5 years. To-day in the chil- 
dren's class Mildred sat in Miss It 's chair whenever Miss 



82 IMITATION. 

E- left the room. In the songs she turned towards the 

children, clapping first to one and then to another, much as 
Miss E would have done. 

479. Mildred. Age, 5 years. Mildred spent two or 
three days with her cousin who was sick. When she came 
home she filled a bottle with water, and said, " That is medi- 
cine." She made some bread into small balls like pills, and 
put the balls in four small boxes. Before each meal she said, 
" I must take my medicine," and ate one of the pills. One 
night she said, " I don't feel very well ; I guess I won't have 
any supper," and took some water from the bottle, and lay 
down on the lounge. She continued to take the medicine for 
more than a week. Frequently she left her play, saying, " I 
don't feel well ; I must take another kind of medicine," and 
get a pill from a different box from the last. 

480. Margaret. Age, about 5 years. I used to put the 
bent end of the poker under my foot, and, holding the handle 
close to my hip, walk with a stiff knee, as I had seen a man 
walk who had a cork leg. I envied persons who were in any 
way deformed. 

481. Mary. Age, 5 years. Mary had two sticks about a 
foot and a half long. She put one under each arm, and walked 
lame. 

482. Dannie. Age, 5 years. Mr. had but one hand. 

Soon after he left the room I saw Dannie with his sleeve 
pulled down so as to completely cover his left hand, and 
working industriously with his right hand. 

483. Unknown. Age, about 5 years. This child was 
coasting in the street near a railroad where cars were con- 
stantly passing. He kept up a continuous noise like this, 
"o-ooo-dong, ooo-dong, ooo-dong." 

484. John. Age, 5 years. John went to a funeral. The 
next day his mother saw him make a hole in the snow, put in 



GROUP IV. 83 

a stick, and cover it up. When lie came into the house she 
asked him what he had been doing. He said he had buried 
the stick just as they buried Mr. M the day before. 

485. George. Age, 5 years. I was telling George's 
mother that I saw a boy whittling in church ; and George got 
a knife and a stick, and began to whittle. 

486. Frank. Age, 5 years. Franklin Street, where 
Frank lives, was being graded. Frank was much interested 
in it, and began "grading" in the yard. His father made a 
tin scraper for him similar to those used by the men. Nearly 
all the time that Frank spent out-of-doors he spent in "grad- 
ing Franklin Street." He dug up all the dirt he could during 
the day, and shovelled it back into the hole at night. At the 
end of a week he was as enthusiastic as when he began. 

487. Amy. Age, about 5 years. I used to watch the cat 
lap milk, and try to do it in the same way. 

488. Stedman. Age, about 5 years. At a social gather- 
ing where the food was passed by a waiter, several persons 
in the group where Stedman sat refused cheese by shaking 
their heads. It was not offered to Stedman; and when the 
waiter had passed he called out, " Pass it to me so I can shake 
my head." 

489. Several Children. Age, about 5 years. In a 
school I noticed that the children when singing nodded their 
heads. More than half did it, I think. 

490. Lillie. Age, about 5 years. Lillie was playing 
school ; and when one of her pupils behaved badly she tied 
one end of a jump-rope around the pupil's waist and the other 
around her own, saying, " You are such a naughty girl you'll 
have to go everywhere I do." I afterwards learned that she 
had been so disorderly at school that her teacher had taken 
this way to keep her out of mischief. 



84 IMITATION. 

491. Effie. Age, 5 years. A playmate once invited me 
to a funeral of a dead chicken. After that, when one of our 
chickens died, or I found a dead bird, I put it in a paper box, 
covered it with flowers, buried it, and put up a stone to mark 
the grave. Sometimes I planted flowers on the grave. I 
used to feel very sorry on such occasions. 

492. Several Children. Age, 3 to 5 years. Several 
children were throwing shovelfuls of dirt into the air and 
saying, " Oh, see the bonfire I made ! " 

493. David. Age, 5 years. Alice. Age, 3 years. I 
saw David and Alice in the street standing facing each other, 
very erect, David singing, " All my gain I count as loss." 

494. Evelyn. Age, 5 years. Mildred said she could sing 
a song, and that it was a long one. After she had sung it Eve- 
lyn said she could sing a song, and it was a very long one. 
She began with the same words that Mildred did, and then 
put in words of various songs, making up the tune as she went 
along, sometimes putting in part of the air of a familiar song. 

495. Several Children. Age, about 5 years. When 
the children 'were marching, as they passed behind Miss 

E , one boy touched her on the back of the neck. Two 

boys behind him in the line did the same thing. 

496. Several Children. Age, about 5 years. In the 

children's class Miss R touched each child on the head. 

Several children touched each other's heads. 

497. Evelyn. Age, about 5 years. In the children's 
class the teacher said, " I hear a robin ; let's go to the win- 
dow and see if we can see it. We must not make any noise, 
because if we frighten him he will fly away." A little while 
after Evelyn stood up and said, " I hear a robin ; don't make 
any noise or he will fly away." 



GROUP IV. 85 

498. Fred. Age, 4 years. Annie. Age, 5 years. I 
saw Annie and Fred running about the yard, each dragging a 
sled by the forward part of the runners. Annie said, " This 
is my snow-plough, and I am. clearing the yard." Pretty soon 
she ran to the corner of the house, and leaving her sled there 
said, " My work's done, but Fred's isn't." In a moment 
Fred brought his sled to the same place, and said his work 
was done. 

499. Several Children. Age, about 5 years. The 
teacher was wiping some water from the floor with a large 
sponge. One of the children said, " I've got a big sponge at 
home." Another one said, " I've got a foot-ball." 

500. Edmund. Age, about 5 years. Edmund went down 
street with his father, and, seeing boys selling papers, said he 
should like to sell papers. A few days after that he was 
missing, and was found down street with a bundle of old 
newspapers under his arm, crying, " Evening Gazette ! " 

501. John. Age, about 5 years. John said, " I know 
how they hold up a drum. The teacher asked, " How ? " 
John made a boy stand up, and placed himself behind him, 
Avith his back towards him. 

502. Unknown. Age, about 5 years. I saw two boys 
with mustaches made of white cotton. They did not stick on 
very well. 

503. Hester. Age, 5 years. My elder sister had a sore 
upon her leg that had to be lanced and bandaged. I wound 
pieces of cloth around my leg and went to a neighbor's. I 
said that I had a sore upon my leg, that the doctor had just 
lanced it, and I was in great pain. I moaned and cried while 
telling about it. 

504. Margaret. Age, 5 years. Margaret was biting her 
arm between the elbow and wrist, and acting as if she were 



86 IMITA TION. 

eating something. When asked what' she was doing, she said 
she was eating a turkey's leg. 

505. Harriet. Age, about 5 years. Mrs. Patterson told 
me that when she (Harriet) was a child she lived on the edge 
of a wood. She and her companions got pine boughs, and 
spent hours playing they were picking turkeys. 

506. Ida. Age, about 5 years. My mother asked a lit- 
tle girl what her name was. The child replied, "Minnie 
Warren." Another child standing by said, " No, it isn't ; it's 
Ida." Ida said, " I ain't going to have my name Ida any 
more; I've changed it." 

507. Several Boys. Age, about 5 years. I heard a 
hissing sound, and looking out saw eight boys and a small 
cart filled with sawdust. One boy said, " We're playing fire- 
man, and we are going to put your fire out." They kept up 
the hissing sound for a short time, and then went on to the 
next house, where they did the same thing. 

508. Several Children. Age, 3 to 5 years. The day 
after Memorial Day I saw three children marching in single 
file. The first had one end of a stick in his mouth, and was 
making a kind of musical sound. The second had a piece of 
slate in his mouth. The third held a hoop before her in 
the position of a bass drum, and was beating the imaginary 
sides. 

509. Frank. Age, 5 years. Frank was standing near a 
log, which he struck every few seconds. Between the strokes 
he imitated the crowing of a rooster. He said he was killing 
roosters. 

510. Three Children. Age, about 5 years. I saw three 
children crying, "Ice-cream, a-ling, ice-cream, a-ling." One 
boy had a broken goblet, which he filled with snow and passed 
to the others. Each took a mouthful, then the goblet was 



GROUP IV. 87 

emptied, refilled, and passed again, the cry all the time con- 
tinued. 

511. Carter. Age, 5 years. Carter placed his express 
wagon behind his rocking-horse, and put a rope long enough 
to reach the wagon into the horse's mouth for reins. He 
put a box into the wagon, and into this a kitten. He sat on 
the wagon-seat and drove. Every little while he called out 
"Whoa ! " and, turning round, said, " Say, Mister, you must 
get off here." He then took the cat out, placed it on the 
floor, waited a little while, put the cat in again, and drove on. 

512. Gladys. Age, 5 years. Charlotte. Age, 3 years. 
I heard Gladys giving her sister this spelling-lesson : — 

Gladys. Spell no ; n-o, no. 
Charlotte. N-o, no. 

Gladys. Now who can spell independence ? Y-e-n-n, in- 
dependence. 

Charlotte. Y-e-n-n, independence. 

513. Sarah. Age, about 5 years. I saw Sarah holding 
a cat in her arms, rocking it and singing. 

514. Eichard. Age, about 5 years. A little boy in the 
children's class said that a cat came into the house, and he 
.kicked it out. Eichard said, " A cow came into my house, 
and I kicked him out." Edna said her father had two horses ; 
Eichard said, " My father has twelve horses." 

515. Elorence. Age, 5 years. My sister and I made 
dresses of the blossoms of the morning-glory. A blossom 
was inverted, and a second blossom put on it for an over- 
skirt. A small flower was added for a hat. Sometimes we 
used ribbon-grass for a sash. 

516. Katie and Na^nt. Age, 5 years. When we made 
mud pies and cakes we dug a hole, and put in it some 
water that we called poison. We often played that we were 



88 IMITATION. 

cooking for a large party. When we made an unusually large 

cake we said, " Miss will take this, she is so greedy, and 

we will put poison in it." We always used fictitious names, 
and agreed not to put in enough poison to kill the person 
while she was in our house. We said that whoever passed 
the cakes must put the poisoned cake where the person for 
whom it was designed could take it easily. 

517. Edna and Jenny. Age, about 5 years. Edna came 
to buy at Jenny's store, and asked the price of sugar. Jenny 
said it was sixty dollar cents, and added, " It is not the com- 
mon kind, but the very best." ' Edna said, "If you have 
really, truly common, I'll take some." 

518. Unknown. Age, 4 or 5 years. A boy stood at a 
street corner with a bundle of saplings under his arm, crying, 
"Whips ! only ten cents." The boys about did not seem to 
notice him. 

519. Donald. Age, 5 years. Donald was drawing a 
stick across his face, back and forth. He said he was shav- 
ing ; he also said that there were pimples on his face, and 
he was scraping them off. 

520. Several Children. Age, about 5 years. I saw 
several children climbing up the tree protectors in the street, 
and making-believe open a lantern, strike a match, and light 
the lamp. They were carrying on a conversation like this : 
" Is this one lighted ? " — " Yes ; they are all done ! " — " No ; 
you've forgotten this one ! " 

521. Edna. Age, 5 years. I happened to be standing 
near a register, and Edna came and stood over it. 

Edna. Isn't it awful cold? 

I. Yes ! I don't think you will get warm standing 
there ; there is no heat. 

Edna. We can play there is. 



GROUP IV. 89 

I. Do you suppose that will do any good ? 
Edna. Yes ; we shall get warm then. 
After a little while she said, " I am getting warm. I 
am a good deal warmer." 

522. Eufus. Age, 5 years, 1 month. Eufus played 
" paint " so constantly one day that his mother was afraid 
he would be overtired. A stick with a piece of cloth tied 
to it was his brush, and water was paint. He painted the 
fence, and many other things. 

523. Harry. Age, 5 years, 1 month. Harry played for 
a whole day that a slender pear-tree was his bicycle. A crook 
near the ground was the seat, and a low broken branch was" 
the step. He put his foot on the step, and leaped into the 
seat. He told me what he saw as he rode through the 
streets. 

524. Mabel. Age, 5 years, 1 month. Mabel went to a 
concert several days ago. Every evening since she has dis- 
tributed slips of paper, which she calls programmes, and, seat- 
ing herself at the piano, lias played in an elaborate manner, 
seemingly unconscious that she is listened to. 

525. Carl. Age, 5 years, 1 month. Carl had his jacket 
off, and was sitting on it. The sleeves were spread out, and 
mud-cakes were placed on them. His brother was trying to 
beat him down in a bargain. I found out that he was play- 
ing " bakery," and the jacket sleeves were the counters. I 
think Carl was trying to talk like the French clerk at the 
bakery where he sometimes goes. 

526. Charlie. Age, 5 years. For about two months, 
while Charlie wore kilts, he insisted on being called a girl. 
He said his name was Clara E. Dean. Dean was the name of 
a friend, but I do not know where he got the name Clara. 
Frequently when called Charlie he would shut his lips tight, 



90 IMITATION. 

and not answer until he was called " Clara." While acting 
this part he would talk in a simpering way, hang his head, 
and pretend to be bashful. Sometimes he said he was a girl 
because he wore dresses. 

527. Larry. Age, 5 years. May and Larry were play- 
ing school. May asked Larry to spell cat; and when he had 
done so she said, " Spell man." Larry said, "Say again! 
My teacher says again." 

528. Jeannette. Age, 5 years. Jeannette made a doll 
by putting a shawl around a pumpkin and using the " silk " 
of corn for hair. 

259. Name Unknown.. Age, about 5 years. I heard a 
boy in the street say to a girl younger than himself, "Now 
I'm going to make a house." With a stick he made a figure 
on the ground something like two capital S's, one below the 
other. " Now see all the rooms we have." — " Yes," said the 
girl, "but we have no beds." — "But we have bedrooms," he 
said ; " that's my bedroom, and that's my bedroom, and that's 
my bedroom, and that's your bedroom." He pointed to the 
spaces enclosed by the curved lines. 

530. Ida. Age, 5 years, 1 month. When Ida's mother 
and sister wish to say something not intended for Ida's ears 
they spell the words. I heard Ida say, " B-o-s, mamma ; tell 
Mamie to give me some candy." 

531. Nellie. Age, 5 years, 1 month. Nellie stood on a 
box behind a chair and " preached." She then stooped down 
behind the chair and said, " Why don't you sing ? " — ■ 
" What do you want me to sing for ? " her sister asked. 
" Why, don't you see I'se hid ? " Nellie replied. 

532. Eddie. Age, 5 years, 1 month. The baby was sick, 
and the doctor was called. Eddie watched the doctor with 
great interest. About a week after, he and his sister played 



Gitour iv. 91 

that the doll was sick and he was the doctor. He felt her 
pulse, and made marks on a piece of paper. He said she had 
lung fever, and must stay in bed two days. 

533. Anna. Age, 5 years, 1 month. Anna seemed greatly 
impressed by the rendering of a piece by an elocutionist. At 
first she watched the speaker intently, then burst out laugh- 
ing, especially when gestures were made. She ran out of the 
room, as if unable to listen any longer, and I saw her try to 
imitate the gestures by closing her fists and making her arms 
tremble violently. She thought no one saw her. 

534. Ted. Age, 5 years, 2 months. Ted said to his sis- 
ter, " Syl, you're a boy and I'm a girl." Sylvia assented, and 
Ted said, " We swapped boys and girls." 

535. Frank. Age, 5 years, 2 months. Frank and Rubie 
were playing " horse." Frank had a stick in his mouth which 
projected on either side. The reins were put under his chin 
and over the stick, and then under his arms. Rubie said the 
stick was the bits. 

536. Frank. Age, 5 years, 2 months. Frank showed me 
four small stones and one large one, and told me they 
were his cat and kittens. "They are mine," he said, "not 
mamma's." 

537. Mamie. Age, 5 years, 2 months. Mamie wore a 
thick veil while she was coasting. She said, " I'm afraid 
of the snow, 'cause it'll blind me." 

538. Lulu. Age, 5 years, 2 months. I was eating an 
apple and putting the seeds in my hand, which was closed. 
Lulu shut her hand, and, holding it below mine, said, " Let it 
go through your grinder and then through mine. Now it's 
all ground." 

539. Maggie. Age, 5 years, 3 months. I told Maggie 
two stories about gypsies taking away naughty little girls. 



92 IMITATION. 

I described the gypsy quite fully. Two days after, Maggie 
was sent to the store just at dark. When she came back she 
told me that an old gypsy had chased her and nearly caught 
her. She repeated quite accurately the description of the 
gypsy I had given her. 

540. Charlie. Age, 5 years, 3 months. Charlie pointed 
to a place at the bottom of a paper, and said, "When I get 
through talking you learn that." 

541. Ernest. Age, 5 years, 3 months. Ernest asked his 
sister if she would like to see how a brush could fly, and then 
made it go " whiz " through the air. 

542. Nathan. Age, 5 years, 3 months. Men had been 
mending the road, and had ploughed a furrow on each side. 
The day after, I saw Nathan " driving " two boys as horses 
very slowly up the road. Nathan was holding, with great 
appearance of effort, one end of a forked stick, and the 
" horses " were pulling the other end. Nathan said they 
were fixing the road. 

543 Bertie. Age, 5 years, 4 months. Bertie stood be- 
side me for a time while I was drawing. He then got a pen- 
cil and paper and sat down beside me to draw, often looking 
at my work. 

544. Gertrude. Age, 5 years, 4 months. Gertrude saw 
a picture of a girl washing her doll's clothes. Without say- 
ing anything, she got her tub and washboard and pretended to 
wash. She hung the clothes on a line between two chairs, 
and then took them down and ironed them. She then placed 
the doll on a mat, and sat in her rocking-chair in front of it, 
exactly as she had seen the girl in another picture. 

545. Mamie. Age, 5 years, 5 months. I played house 
with Mamie. She was my mother. She was going out to 
call on a friend, and leave me at home. She said, " Now be a 



GROUP IV. 93 

good girl, and lock the door, and don't let any peddlers in 
except Mr. Bailey [a tin peddler], because I want a new 
dipper." 

546. Mildred. Age, 5 years, 5 months. Mildred had 
been playing with Grace, who says " Ma'am " instead of 
" What " when she does not understand. At supper Mildred 
spoke of this. Later she was playing school with her doll. 
I heard her say, " You knew better, didn't you ? " and reply 
for the doll, " Yes'm." She then immediately said, " You 
mustn't say ' Yes'm ! ' you must say ' Ma'am ! ' " 

547. Bertie. Age, 5 years, 5 months. Bertie went to a 
blacksmith's shop, and saw a horse shod. He asked me if I 
didn't want a horse shod. He then placed a block under the 
leg of each chair, and struck the blocks with a stick, which he 
uses as a hammer. 

548. Edith. Age, 5 } r ears, 5 months. Luke. Age, 4 
years, 3 months. Luke and Edith were playing steamboat. 
Luke said the boat had sprung aleak, and Edith must sing 
"Pull for the Shore." They both sang, and imagined they 
reached the shore in safety. 

549. Lawrence. Age, 5 years, 6 months. Lawrence 
buckled a shawl-strap around his waist, and put the poker 
through it for a sword. He marched about, singing a medley 
of " Yankee Doodle," " Marching through Georgia," and 
"After the Ball." 

550. Florence. Age, 5 years, 6 months. Florence sat 
in her little chair in front of the foot-rest, and moved her 
hands over the foot-rest as if playing the piano. 

551. Lulu. Age, 5 years, 6 months. Lulu saw a gentle- 
man and lady walking arm in arm. Not long after I saw her 
walking down the road, one arm akimbo, looking up, and 
talking very low. 



94 IMITATION. 

552. Margaret. Age, 5 years, 6 months. Teresa. Age, 
3 years. These two children came to spend an hour at my 
house. They asked if I had a doll, and I gave them two. 
They promptly began to play house, and asked me to be 
the grandmother. Margaret said she was going to call on 
Miss Gilmore, and I proposed to go too. '■'. Oh, no ! " she said, 
" don't you know that grandmothers have to stay at home 
and mind the children ? " I said, " There are no children." — 
" But we'll believe there is," she said. She knocked on the 
door of the next room. Teresa opened the door. There were 
the usual greetings and inquiries about the baby, who was 
said to be sick ; and when Margaret was asked to take off her 
hat, she said, " No ; I left grandma with the children, and I'm 
afraid they'll be crying." When she came back she gave me 
the baby to hold, showed me a new dress she had bought, told 
the price of it, etc. Then Teresa came to see us, and the 
same conversation was repeated, except that the price of the 
new dress varied. 

553. Lawrence. Age, 5 years, 7 months. Lawrence got 
a dish of soap-suds, and with an old paint-brush "painted" 
the railing and floor of the back piazza. He has done this 
several times. Ernest helps him with a tooth-brush. 

554. Mildred. Age, 5 years, 7 months. Mildred had 
her cup containing bread and milk turned on one side. She 
took her spoon, and began beating the bread and milk, saying, 
" I am beating eggs." 

555. Lulu. Age, 5 years, 7 months. Lulu was standing 
on a stone wall. She waved her hands, and said, " Sit down 
and be the congregation. I'm preaching." 

556. Eleanor. Age, 5 years, 7 months. One morning I 
went to breakfast with my hair pinned back. No remark 
was made about it ; but in the middle of the forenoon Eleanor 



GROUP IV. 95 

came down-stairs with her hair wet, and the bang pinned 
back with hairpins. 

557. Lulu. Age, 5 years, 7 months. About two weeks 
ago Lulu began to giggle at almost everything done or said in 
her presence. Little was said to her for fear of increasing 
the tendency. I think she does it a little less now, though 
there is little difference. At her school the children giggle 
noticeably. 

558. Lulu. Age, 5 years, 7 months. 

Lulu. Uncle , I'm coming to see you, and you 

must play you are glad to see me. 

. I can't play now ; I'm tired. 

Lulu. Oh, I won't make you play hard. How do you do ? 
| . How do you do ? 

Lulu. You would like to have us come in, wouldn't you ? 

. Yes. 

Lulu (to the doll). The gentleman says he Avould like 

to have us come in. (To .) Would you like to have 

us sit down ? 

. Yes. 

Lulu. Thank you ! we will sit down a few minutes. 
Don't you think my little girl looks like her mamma ? 

. I guess so. 

Lulu (to the doll). Your uncle thinks you look like me, 
dear. 

At this point the play was interrupted. 

559. Mary. Age, 5 years, 8 months. Mary had a small 
advertising card which she treated as a bill of fare. She 
pointed to certain words, and said, " meat," " bread," " po- 
tato," etc. 

560. Lorix. Age, 5 years, 8 months. Lorin's brother 
had a flannel band around his throat. Lorin teased to have 
one on his throat, and wore it to school. 



96 IMITATION. 

561. Mary. Age, 5 years, 8 months. Mary rapped on 
the window, and said, " Come into school ! Don't you hear 
the bell ring ? " No one was in sight. 

562. Walter. Age, 5 years, 8 months. Walter went to 
all the doorsteps in the neighborhood, and picked up the 
handbills that had been distributed. He placed them under 
his arm, and walked up the street, turning around every little 
while and saying, " You can't have any bills." He stopped at 
every gate, and with a swing of his arm pretended to throw a 
bill into the yard. 

563. Anna. Age, 5 years, 8 months. In the morning 
Anna played that her doll had the measles. In the after- 
noon she wanted to play " go out," but seemed to think as the 
baby had the measles she ought not to. Finally she took 
the baby up and said, " Baby has slept the measles off." 

564. Ted. Age, 5 years, 8 months. Ted fastened a 
string to the two corners of the lap of a large envelope, and, 
putting it over his shoulder, called himself a postman. He 
put several pictures that he had drawn into the envelope. 

565. Willie. Age, 5 years, 8 months. Willie took a 
bundle of old newspapers from the closet without any one's 
knowledge, and went into the street and sold three as if they 
had been new. 

566. Mamie. Age, 5 years, 8 months. Mamie asked me 
to play school with her. She was the teacher, and collected 
for use a knitting-needle, a handbill, and some cards on which 
numbers were written. She pointed to the handbill, and 
said, " Find me g-r-e-a-t s-a-l-e. Now find a period. Now find 
a s'prise mark." I said, "I don't know that. What is it ? " 
She pointed to an exclamation mark. She wrote a table, 
1 + 1=2, 2+1 = 3, 3 + 1=4, 4+1 = 5; and when I read it, "1 
plus 1 equals 2," she said it was not right. She read it, 
" 1 and 1 are 2," etc. 



GROUP IV. 97 

567. Ted. Age, 5 years, 8 months. Ted put on some 
bathing-pants, and tied a piece of calico over his head and 
face for a mask. He carried a gun on his shoulder. He 
said he fired the gun to frighten folks. 

568. Hattie. Age, 5 years. 10 months. Hattie placed 
one of her dolls in my lap, placed my hands around it in a 
certain way, and told me to rock. She placed another doll in 
my cousin's lap with the same directions. Pretty soon she 
said to each of us in a whisper, " She's asleep," and, taking 
the dolls, placed them in a chair, and covered them up care- 
fully. Presently she took one up and said, " She's sick." 
She then took up the other and said, " You've been slapping 
her ; what did you do that for ? " Then in a feigned voice, 
" Cause I wanted to." Resuming her natural voice, she said 
" Well, you'd better not do that again." She laid the sick 
doll down, and bringing the offender to me asked me to whip 
it. I did so, and then she whipped it very vigorously. She 
then wanted me to go to sleep. She put her arms around my 
neck, and rocked me back and forth, and said, "You go to 
sleep, and sleep till I get my apple eaten up." She went on 
eating an apple, but every little while came to me and rocked 
me as before. She then wanted to hold me. She sat in a 
rocking-chair, and I allowed her to hold me and rock me to 
sleep. She then made-believe put me on the bed. During 
this time she often kissed me and patted me. 

569. Ralph. Age, 5 years, 10 months. Ralph turns 
chairs upside down, and sits in one of them. He says it is 
as good as going in the cars. 

570. Elmer. Age, 5 years, 10 months. Elmer placed five 
or six chairs one behind another, and passed a rope through 
the backs in such a way that the ends came out at the back 
of the last chair. He then sat on a high-chair and drove. 
Sometimes he called it a circus, and sometimes a coach. 



98 IMITATION. 

571. Minnie. Age, 5 years, 11 months. I asked Min- 
nie to sing to me. She said, " Yes, in a minnte. " She 
struck her forefinger on the back of a chair, held it up to 
her ear, and hummed. She did this again, and then began 
to sing. 



GROUP V. 99 



GROUP V. 

Ages between 6 and 7. 



572. Several Children. Age, 4 to 6 years. These 
children were marching up and down the street. One had a 
drum, another a teapot, which she was beating with a stick, 
and another two tin covers, which she was striking together. 
I heard them say something about the Salvation Army. 

573. Joe. Age, 5 years. Andrew. Age, 6 years. 
These children played horse-car like this : Joe stood inside a 
hoop, and Andrew held a rope which was fastened to the 
hoop. Joe was the driver and Andrew the horse. 

574. Unknown. Age, 5 or 6 years. A boy and girl 
were playing horse on a pile of boards. A long rope was 
fastened to one of the boards near the ground, while the chil- 
dren sat near the top of the pile. 

575. Several Boys. Age, about 5 or 6 years. I saw a 
number of boys going along the street encircled by a rope, 
which one on the outside was holding. One said, "Let's 
bring these [meaning two little girls who were in front of 
them] to court." Another said, " No ; you must bring them 
first to the police station." Another said, " I'll be judge." 
This was all I heard. 

576. Three Girls. Age, 5 or 6 years. Three girls car- 
rying a bunch of advertisements asked me if I wanted to buy 
the Post. 

577. John. Age, 5 or 6 years. John and three other 
boys were playing in a mud puddle perhaps six feet long. 



100 IMITATION. 

John called me to come and see his " ocean." At one end was 
a heap of sticks and stones which they said was the wharf. 
A bundle of sticks nailed together was the steamer. " Don't 
you see the cap'n standing on deck ? " they indignantly 
said when I asked what it was. I asked how passengers got 
on board. " Why, don't you see the plank ? They walk right 
up, so ! Look out ! it's going to start ! Toot, toot ! " There 
were as many as eight or ten landings where the steamer 
stopped in making its trip. 

578. Two Boys. Age, 5 or 6 years. Two boys were sit- 
ting on a log in the middle of a large sheet of ice. They 
called out, " We are in our boat ! " 

579. Unknown. Age, 5 or 6 years. I saw this girl driv- 
ing a hoop on the sidewalk. She was making sounds such as 
men make in driving horses. The hoop went into a hole, and 
she said, " Gee ! " 

580. Vera. Age, 5 or 6 years. As I passed, Vera was 
standing at the gate. She held up two curled dandelion 
stems, and said, " I've got some curls, and I'm going to put 
them in my hair." Her own hair curls ; but she wears it 
braided. 

581. Grace and Mary. Age, 5 or 6 years. The great- 
est pleasure I had when I visited my cousin in the country 
was to play " house " on a large rock. It was divided into 
rooms by cracks, and a smaller rock at one side was a sofa. 
We played that we were sisters, were rich, and had adopted 
children. We each had a name that we thought suitable to 
such a character. When we wanted plants or flowers we 
picked the wild-flowers, but played that they were costly 
greenhouse flowers with long names, which we bought after 
long conversations with imaginary gardeners. 

582. Several Children. Age, 5 or 6 years. I saw 
these children playing on the sidewalk. I think they were all 



GROUP V. 101 

girls. One would run up to another, and, striking her, drawl 
out, " You — let — my — sister — be ! " Another one would 
shout, " You let my brother be ! " This was repeated again 
and again, always in the same tone. Nothing besides this 
was said. 

583. Mary. Age, 6 years. Abbv. Age, 4 years. My 
mother had the toothache, and to ease the pain warmed a 
piece of flannel at the stove, and tied it around her head. 
My sisters each got a piece of flannel, warmed it, and held 
it to her face, making grimaces as if in pain. 

584. George. Age, 6 years. John. Age, 5 years. These 
boys had their right arms in slings made of thin handker- 
chiefs and pieces of string. 

585. Harry. Age, 6 years. Harry went to a few of the 
Murphy temperance lectures. I saw him standing on the 
piazza talking to a boy that plays with him. He tossed his 
arms ; and I knew that he was talking loud, though I could 
not hear what he said. I saw him a little later, and asked 
him what he was playing. He said, " I wasn't playing ; I was 
Mr. Murphy then, and I've made Willie sign the pledge." 

586. Several Children. Age, 5 and 6 years. I stood 
before the children in a school, and went through some gym- 
nastics with them. They followed me in all the movements, 
some of which were familiar, and some new. I did not say 
a word to them, and they were quiet and attentive. 

587. Four Children. Age, 4 to 6 years. These chil- 
dren marched up the street, the boys leading. One carried a 
large bunch of lilacs, another a long stick, which he held up to 
his mouth like a flute. He was making a sound something 
like a drum, in marching time. One girl also carried a bunch 
of lilacs, and the other something I could not see. Just as 
they came to a house a man whom they seemed to know came 
out, and they stopped marching very suddenly. 



102 IMITATION. 

588. Several Children. Age, 4 to 6 years. I saw sev- 
eral children hopping about under some low shrubs, making a 
peeping noise like chickens. 

589. Bates. Age, about 6 years. Bates was sitting in a 
box in the middle of a puddle of water, trying to push himself 
along with a stick. 

590. Several Children. Age, about 6 years. I coughed 
a good deal in school. This morning five or six of the chil- 
dren had a severe fit of coughing. This afternoon it was 
repeated, by the same children I think. 

591. Florence. Age, about 6 years. The play of " livery- 
stable " was very popular for what seems to me now like a 
long time. The smaller children were the horses, and were 
kept in a large barn near the school. One child was the 
owner, and the others came to hire the horses. I felt very 
bad when the play was given up, because I could get no one 
to play it with me. 

592. Cora. Age, about 6 years. My sister and I called 
one corner of the sitting-room ours. We kept a cricket con- 
stantly set as a table. We frequently took an imaginary 
dinner there. If we were given food we commonly took it 
there to eat it. 

593. Abbie. Age, 6 (?) years. When I played with 
several other children we often called ourselves by the names 
of colors, as Mr. Green, Mrs. Purple, Miss Black, Sir Bed, 
etc. 

594. Cora. Age, 6 (?) years. When my sister, my 
brother, and I played " stage-coach," my sister and I sat on 
the arm of the lounge, and my brother sat lower down, and 
drove two chairs at the foot of the lounge. He shouted at 
the horses, and we jumped up and down to represent the 
jolting of the coach. 



GROUP V. 103 

595. Edwin. Age, about 6 years. Edwin stood in the 
midst of a group of children, holding one end of a string. 
The other end was in a hole in the ground. I asked what 
he was doing. The children said, " Hush ! catching rats." 
Edwin then whispered, " There's a bit of meat tied to the end 
of the string, and when the rat bites the meat I'll pull him 
up." 

596. Unknown. Age, — »■ years. I saw a girl in the street 
with a pair of spectacles on. There was no glass in them. 

597. Unknown. Age, about 6 years. A little girl walked 
in front of me. We came to a muddy place, where we needed 
to step carefully. The girl had on rubber-boots ; and her 
dress was short, but she held up her dress, and stepped as 
daintily as any lady. 

598. Margaret. Age, 6 (?) years. I many times ar- 
ranged strips of black paper and white paper on the dining- 
table, and made-believe play the piano. 

599. Emeline. Age, about 6 years. After seeing the 
picture of a bull-frog, I got down on my hands and knees, and 
fancied I was one. 

600. Unknown. Age, about 6 years. I saw her wave 
her hands when the railroad conductor did, and stop when he 
did. 

601. Eliza. Age, about 6 years. I told the children to 
draw a square on their slates. When I looked at Eliza's slate 
I said, " Good, Eliza," and wrote the word good in the square. 
When I saw her slate again she had written her name after 
the word good, so that it read as I said it, " Good Eliza." 

602. Ruth. Age, 6 years. Ruth has never been to school 
nor been taught at home; but she often "prints" letters. I 
saw a letter that she had written to her sister, and following 
the signature of her own name were three initials ; W M W, 



104 IMITATION. 

I believe they were ; at any rate, they were entirely unlike her 
own initials. Her sister says she usually does this. 

603. George. Age, about 6 years. When Ella sang a 
motion-song before the school, George went through the 
motions too. 

604. Elsie. Age, 6 years. I took a chair away from the 
stove, saying, " How the varnish smells ! " A few minutes 
after, Elsie pulled a chair back from the stove, and said, " I 
smell the varnish." She snuffed two or three times as she 
did so. 

605. Margaret. Age, 6 (?) years. I liked to play I 
was a cat or dog. I got down on my hands and knees, and 
lapped milk out of a saucer. 

606. Feank. Age, 6 years. Erank ran a dress steel 
through the end of a bag made of paper striped with red, 
white, and blue. He said, " This is Eourth of July ; we must 
have the flag at the top of the pole." Then he slipped the 
bag half-way down the steel, and said, " Somebody's dead 
now." 

607. Anna. Age, 6 years. Anna was left to amuse her 
baby brother. She said, "Now, Charles, I must show you 
some manners ; sing, ' Never to be late when you go to 
school.'" When she became aware of her mother's presence 
she said with affectation, " Charles is my baby, and I will 
show him manners ; you can show your own children man- 
ners." 

608. Erank. Age, 6 years. We have two broods of 
chickens, and Erank is very fond of them. He calls them 
little balls of wool. The other day he was in the yard watch- 
ing them when a cat came in. Frank immediately ran after 
her, and to get away from him she jumped upon the shed. 
He got a stick, and said, " I'm going to be Jack the cat- 



GROUP V. 105 

killer." He looked very determined, and tried to climb upon 
the shed. " I knoAv she means to get my little woolly hens," 
he said. 

609. Fred. Age, 6 years. Fred put his ringer into the 
mouth of the baby, who is four days old, and said with de- 
light, " The baby's got teeth ! " When asked how he knew, 
he said, " I can feel them." 

610. Maud and Helen - . Age, 6 years. These girls came 
to meet me, walking in a very dignified manner. " We've 
got some hat-pins," they said, turning about to show me a 
headless hat-pin and a shawl-pin. They then tried to lift 
their hats to show me that the pins really held them on. 
When I left them I heard them say, " Our hats are just like 
hers." 

611. Unknown. Age, 6 years. A boy who had on an 
overcoat that did not reach to his knees grasped it with both 
hands to hold it up when he waded through a mud puddle. 

612. Tiny. Age, 6 years. I had my lead-pencil stuck in 
my belt. Happening to look at Tiny, I saw that she had her 
slate-pencil and her ruler stuck in her belt. 

613. Joseph. Age, 6 years. Joseph carries several 
newspapers and letters in his pocket, and often takes them 
out, saying, "I must read the dailies, and answer my mail." 
He has seen his father with papers and letters. 

614. George. Age, 6 years. George played he was one 
of the female riders in a circus. He turned an old green 
felt hat wrong side out, turned it up at the back, and sewed 
on some pink roses. He sewed some bits of lace on the front 
in the form of bows, and put on white lace strings. He wore 
a dress skirt. He did not attempt to ride ; the costume was 
sufficient. 



106 IMITATION. 

615. Grace. Age, 6 years. Edna. Age, 5 years. Grace 
and Edna had drawn figures in the middle of the road for 
houses. 

Edna (pretending to ring at Graces front door). How 
do you do ? 

Grace (in an affected tone). How do you do ? Come 
right in. I've been cleaning up. Oh, dear ! It's awful hard 
work. (Sweeping vigorously.) 

Edna. When are you going to move ? 

Grace. I don't think I will move this week, but I guess 
I will move next week. 

Edna. Oh, I don't think I will move till next summer. 

616. Unknown. Age, about 6 years. I met nine boys 
walking on stilts. One small boy was learning, and often fell. 
A man who was passing said, " Come down from there ; you'll 
break your neck." The boy replied, " I'm only learning. 
Fred went the same way a little while ago, and see how he 
goes now." 

617. Willie. Age, 6 years. I found Willie dipping his 
finger in a grease-dish, and then rubbing his head. I said, 
" Why, Willie, what are you doing ? " — " Greasing my ears," 
he said ; " they squeaked just as wheels do." 

618. Unknown. Age, about 6 years. A boy and girl 
were on the sidewalk a short distance apart. I heard the boy 
say, " Now, Nellie, play you was walking along up towards 
your steps, kind o' slow, and I'll come along and make a grab 
and gobble at you." I could not see the steps ; but I saw the 
boy go in that direction, and heard a scream of pretended sur- 
prise from the girl, by which I judged that the boy's plan 
was carried out. 

619. Bertie and Willie. Age, about 6 years. Bertie 
was carrying his drum in the position in which a bass drum 
is carried. Willie held the other side with one hand, and 



GROUP V. 107 

beat the drum with a stick. He was continually stepping on 
Bertie's heels because they were not in step, and they walked 
all over the sidewalk. 

620. Dora. Age, about 6 years. Dora was sitting in her 
rocking-chair, and holding a cologne bottle in her hand. Sud- 
denly she said, " I am going to your house to see you. I am 

going to be Dr. H . This is my horse and carriage." 

She rocked vigorously for a few seconds, stopped, and went 
to one of the persons present. " What is the matter with 
you ? " — " Headache," said the person addressed. Dora 
brushed her hand across her patient's forehead, felt her pulse, 
and placed her ear as if to hear the beating of her heart, and 
said, " Now you feel better, don't you ? " — " No ! " said the 
patient. " But you will after you get a good sound sleep," 
said Dora. 

621. Cecilia. Age, about 6 years. We kept up a post- 
office for about three months. The letters were written on 
any waste paper, and the envelopes were made of the same. 
We drew the stamps on the envelopes with a pencil. The let- 
ters were deposited in a cigar-box on a shelf over a cellar-door 
used in common by several families. 

622. Grace. Age, about 6 years. Grace made a garden 
of bits of moss. She partly surrounded it with pieces of 
broken glass, stuck upright in the ground. This, she said, 
was to make the moss grow. 

623. Several Boys. Age, 3 to 6 years. These boys 
would stand in a part of the yard which apparently was their 
engine-house, kicking and prancing like horses ; then some 
one would scream, " Hoo-hoo-ding-dong," and they would break 
away and run, singing, " Hoo-hoo-ding-dong." They would 
climb up on the posts, and pretend to throw water on them 
from a hose. They played this over and over. 



108 IMITATION. 

624. Jerome. Age, 6 years. Fanny. Age, 3 years, 6 
months. Jerome and Fanny played house for nearly an hour. 
Jerome dusted the what-not, one end of the sofa, and one end 
of the piano, with a piece of a handbill. Fanny asked sev- 
eral times what she should do next. Each time Jerome said, 
"Why, dust; just dust." She began to dust the other end 
of the piano, when he stopped her, saying, " You mustn't dust 
there ; we don't want to dust outside of our house." Jerome 
said he must go to the store. He crossed the room to a desk, 
and soon came back and began to dust again. Fanny filled a 
glass tumbler with pieces of paper, and brought it to me, say- 
ing they were dusters. Jerome said, as if to himself, "I 
guess I had better stop. I am getting tired." Presently he 
said, " I've got to go down street again. Oh, dear ! won't I 
be tired." He went to the desk, and busied himself for sev- 
eral minutes. He then brought his mother and me each a 
small piece of paper, and asked us if we would like a ticket to 
the concert at the opera house. (Some time before his uncle 
had spoken of a concert at the opera house.) On the paper 
he had printed the date correctly, his own name, and under 
his name the words cure Pisos. His mother asked what Pisos 
meant. He said, " It's just a word — I don't know what it 
means." Afterwards he showed her an advertisement of 
Piso's Remedy. 

625. Willie. Age, 6 years. Jamie. Age, 2 years. Four 
children were standing on a gate. Willie said, "Let's play 
we're on the cars." — " Oh, yes ! " said all. Jamie said, " Gee 
up, cars ! gee up ! " 

626. Flora. Age, 6 years. Mabel. Age, 4 years. Flora 
and Mabel held a branch of hemlock over their heads, and 
called it a parasol. 

627. Unknown. Age, about 6 and 4 years. Two chil- 
dren were carrying a plank about two and a half feet long; 



GROUP V. 109 

the one in advance had her back to the plank, the other, her 
face towards it. The younger said, " Dead body." 

628. Unknown. Age, about 6 years. This child was 
leading a much younger child by the hand. She held up her 
own dress carefully with the other hand. I asked her what 
she was playing. She said, " Playing mother, of course." 

629. Georgie. Age, 6 years. Georgie sat beside me 
while I played the piano. Without saying anything I 
played, " The Boy and the Cuckoo." I saw that he was lis- 
tening attentively, and played it again. This time he sang 
the tune, and made no mistake. I then played it and sang 
the words. He said, " Sing it again." I did so, and he 
sang the words with me. He has learned several songs in 
this way. 

630. Emma. Age, 6 years. I overheard Emma saying to 
herself, " I don't have a minute to spare. You see, I go to col- 
lege, and take music lessons and dancing lessons, and then I 
have to go to church every night, and, oh, dear me ! I never 
have time for anything." 

631. Allan. Age, 6 years. Allan and two other chil- 
dren have been digging a well at the edge of the garden. 
They have been at work at it for about a week. Allan asked 
me to go to see it, and on the way said, " It's most a foot over 
my head." 

632. Unknown. Age, about 6 years. This child was 
making a house of earth. She pressed the earth together 
firmly in a mound, made doors and windows, putting in 
stones for the latter, stuck in a stick for the chimney, 
walled in a garden, traced paths, and laid out flower-beds. 
I asked her where she learned to do this ; and she said, 
"We do it at school with white dirt the teacher calls 
clay." 



110 IMITATION. 

633. Unknown. Age, about 6 , years. I saw this girl 
standing near a railroad imitating the motions that a brake- 
man was making. When she saw any one looking at her she 
stopped, but in a few minutes she began again. 

634. Harry. Age, about 6 years. I was blowing on a 
blade of grass held between my thumbs to make a whistling 
sound. I asked Harry if he did not want me to show him 
how to do it. He shook his head. About five minutes after 
I saw him concealed behind a tree, trying to blow as I had 
done. He dropped the blade of grass when he saw me 
looking at him. 

635. Unknown. Age, about 6 years. This girl had 
some broken dishes on a chair-seat, and near by on a stone 
a coffee-pot without a cover. She accidentally upset the 
coffee-pot; and although there was nothing in it, she said, 
" Oh, my coffee, my nice coffee is gone ! It's all gone, all 
gone ! " 

636. Unknown. Age, 5 or 6 (?) years. A ragged little 
boy came into the meat-market, and said, " How much your 
chickens a pound ? " No notice was taken of him, and pres- 
ently he said, " All right ! Send up five." 

637. Unknown. Age, about 6 (?) years. A boy was 
standing at each end of a bridge. One put his hand to his 
mouth, and called, " Hullo Central ! give me Worcester ! Got 
any planks ? " The other boy said, " Yes ! " — " Got any 
nails?" — "Yes!" They repeated this several times, the 
first boy always calling and asking for something needed in 
building a house. 

638. Georgie. Age, about 6 years. Georgie had a lot of 
figures on his slate instead of the regular number work. 
" What does this mean ? " I asked. " I was being a book- 
keeper." — " Is your father a book-keeper ? " — " No ; my 
brother is." 



GROUP V. Ill 

639. Mary. Age, about 6 years. I made a piano on a 
stone wall. I selected a flat stone, and arranged sticks on it 
for keys, long sticks for the white keys and shorter ones for 
the black keys. Any piece of paper served for a music-book. 

640. Mittie. Age, 6 years. Mittie likes to play that 
Mrs. Porter is her mother, and that she is Annie Porter. She 
is angry if we forget to call her so. One evening she was at 
Mrs. Porter's, but nothing was said about the play. When it 
was time for her to go home she said to Mrs. Porter, " May 
I go over to Mrs. Clark's and sleep to-night, mother ? I'll 
come home early in the morning." 

641. Grace. Age, 6 years. I heard a girl say of another 
girl with whom she was angry, " I am going to cut her the 
next time I meet her." Afterwards I got angry with my 
sister, and, taking a kitchen knife, cut her hand. 

642. Mary. Age, 6 years. Mary had been visiting 
where a telegraphic despatch had been received, and some one 
had tried to explain to her how it came. After she came 
home she was seen standing at the corner of the house shak- 
ing the lightning conductor. Another girl was at the second- 
story window. Mary said in a would-be gruff voice, " Your 
grandmother's dead ; come pretty quick." — " Oh dear ! " said 
the girl at the window, " what shall I do ? No train to- 
night." 

643. Unknown. Age, about 6 years. I saw a boy in the 
street, alone, with a board three or four feet long held as a 
man holds a musket. As he walked he imitated the sound of 
a drum, something like this : a-r-r-rub-a-dub-dub, a-jig-jig-jig. 

644. Unknown. Age, about 5 or 6 years. Pour children 
were in our pew at church. My father sat with them, but I 
sat in the pew behind them. During the prayer my father 
bent his head forward, and covered his eyes with his hand. 



112 IMITATION. 

One of the children observed him, and did the same thing. 
The one sitting next to the boy who did this nudged him and 
said, " You mustn't do that." — "I don't care," he said, point- 
ing to my father, " he does it." 

645. Seven Boys. Age, 6 (?) years. I saw seven boys 
marching down the road. Each held a stick to his shoulder. 
The tallest was evidently the leader, and just as he reached 
my house he said, " Halt ! " All stood very stiff and still. 
" Forward ! — march ! " and they began to march again. 
" Shoulder — arms ! " and they put the sticks to their 
shoulders. After a while I asked them what they were play- 
ing, and where they learned it. They said, " This is the 57th 
Regiment. On St. Patrick's Day we saw the cadets of Wor- 
cester do this ; so we formed a regiment, and we can beat the 
Worcesters now." 

646. Arthur. Age, 6 years. Florence. Age, 4 years. 
Arthur and Florence sat in a rocking-chair playing cars. 
Arthur was conductor and brakeman. He had pieces of 
paper for tickets and a nail for a punch. He called the 
names of places, and stopped to let passengers off. Florence 
got off, and he would not let her get on until he came back 
from the end of the journey. 

647. Eva. Age, about 6 years. I told Eva the story of 
" The Three Bears." She asked to have it repeated, and lis- 
tened very carefully. Then she said, "Let's play the three 
bears." I said I did not know how. " I'll tell you ! " She 
said. " It is easy. Emma will be the big bear, you will be the 
middle bear, and I shall be the little bear." — " Yes, but what 
shall we do ? " I asked. " Emma must say, ( Somebody has 
been eating my porridge ! ' You must say, ' Somebody has been 
eating my porridge ! ' and I must say, ' Somebody has been eat- 
ing my porridge, and eaten it all up ! ' " We did this, and 
then she told us to do just the same about the chairs and the 



GROUP V. 113 

beds. She finished the game by saying, " Somebody's been 
lying in my bed, and here she is." This was the whole game, 
but she did not tire of it for an hour. 

648. Bertie. Age, 6 years. Bertie often plays " theatre " 
with the folding-doors. His cousin takes the part of the spec- 
tators, and Bertie opens and shuts the doors. 

649. Unknown. Age, about 6 years. I saw two girls in 
the street carrying the frame of an umbrella over their heads. 
The cover was entirely gone. One said to the other, " Get 
under the umbrella, you naughty girl, or you will get soaking 
wet." 

650. Unknown. Age, about 6 years. I could see at quite 
a distance down the street, no other persons being in sight, a 
girl apparently deformed. Her feet were turned in so that 
she staggered, her arms were held up, and her hands dropped 
like those of some deformed persons I have seen. She did 
not see me until she was near me, when she straightened up 
and walked like any child. After I had passed her I looked 
back, and she was again walking as when I first saw her. 

651. Amy. Age, 6 years. At six years old I used to like 
to play church. I arranged the chairs for pews, and my dolls 
were the congregation. I read the entire service from the 
prayer-book, and read a sermon from some book. 

652. Albert. Age, 6 years. Christine. Age, 4 years. 

Albert. Will you come out riding to-day, Mrs. H ? 

Christine. Yes, I want to go down-street. 

Albert went to the door and called, " John, bring the horse 
to the door!" After a moment he said, "I don't see what 
keeps that boy so long ! " Again he went to the door. " John, 
I'm in a hurry for the horse." He brought a rocking-horse 
from behind the door, and they got on it. They rocked a few 
minutes ; and then Albert said, " You can get out at the Boston 



114 IMITATION. 

Store ; I'm going to buy a whip." Christine waited in the 
entry for Albert, who pulled the rocking-horse to the farther 
corner of the room. As he was coming back, he whipped the 
horse, and rocked it very fast. 

Christine. Why, Ernest, what kept you so long ? 

Albert. They tried to cheat me ; so I went to another 
place, and I tell you I got a good one. 

They rocked a little while, and then played the same thing 
again. 

653. Fred. Age, 6 years. Avis. Age, 4 years. Fred 
and Avis were " moving " in a wheelbarrow. They put in 
the doll's furniture, a cradle, bed, chairs, and tin kitchen. 
Avis put her rocking-chair in, and sat in it, while Fred sat on 
a rocking-horse which he had covered with a blanket. 

654. Walter. Age, 6 years. Malcolm. Age, 5 years. 
Walter slipped, and fell on the sidewalk. Malcolm sat down 
beside him and laughed. Pretty soon Walter laughed. 

655. Name Unknown. Age, about 6 years. There is a 
boy in our neighborhood who uses crutches. To-day I saw a 
boy who is not lame using the legs of an old high-chair for 
crutches. 

656. Allie. Age, about 6 years. Allie had a piece of 
bread between her lips. She threw her head back, and said, 
" See the cat with a bird in her mouth." 

657. Name Unknown. Age, about 6 years. This girl 
had a stick about three inches long in her mouth, and was 
holding a much shorter stick to the end of it, meanwhile 
puffing with her lips. 

658. Agnes. Age, 6 years. Mattie. Age, 4 years. 
These girls made their dirt-houses by placing their hands on 
the ground, and pressing the dirt on them. They withdrew 
their hands carefully, and the hollow mound remained. Each 



GROUP V. 115 

house had a front and back door, and a skylight of glass 
in the top. The houses were enclosed by fences, and had 
gardens attached. 

659. Name Unknown. Age, about 6 years. This boy 
had an oak twig with an acorn on it in his mouth, and was 
puffing as if smoking. 

660. John. Age, 6 years. Ambrose. Age, 5 years. 
John and Ambrose played that their express-wagon was a 
police-wagon. They played their younger brother was a 
drunken man, and carried him away in the wagon. 

661. Della. Age, 6 years. Delia and I played house. 
She spread a handkerchief on a chair-seat, and set the table. 
Another chair served for a stove, and on this she put the tea- 
pot. We had bread, meat, potatoes, tea, milk, and sugar. 
She gave my sister (older than I) and the doll milk, because 
tea was not good for children. She and I had tea, which she 
gravely poured out from an empty teapot. I asked what kind 
of tea it was ; and after a little hesitation she said, " Black." 
I asked if she had green tea. She said, " Yes," and went into 
another room, saying that her pantry was a long way off. 
When she came back, she asked me to look in the teapot, and 
see if that was brown tea. She put it on the stove to cook, 
and then gave me some. 

662. Mary. Age, 6 years, 1 month. Mary wants to give 
her teacher a present, because lots of the other girls have 
given her presents. 

663. Carrie. Age, 6 years, 2 months. Carrie was sit- 
ting at the piano playing. Suddenly she left the room, and 
came back with a shawl pinned around her waist, and trailing 
behind her. She seated herself at the piano and played 
vigorously. 



116 IMITATION. 

664. Frank. Age, 6 years, 3 months. Frank had two 
canes resting at one end on the round of a chair, and at the 
other end passed through the handle of a washtub. He shook 
the canes up and down in turn, saying it was a loom, and he 
was weaving a handkerchief. 

665. Albert. Age, 6 years, 3 months. Albert was 
playing with checker-men. He held one of them, and said, 
" This is John Brazel ; he's going to the Soldiers' Home. 
And here's a pension that he's going after." He placed 
several checkers around the leg of a chair, and said they 
were soldiers. "They ain't going to let him in, because he 
ain't lame. All these are lame, and have wooden legs like 
Mr. ." 

666. Albert. Age, 6 years, 3 months. 
Albert. What's a soul ? 

I. I don't know, what is it ? 

Albert. Guess. 

I. A person. 

Albert. No. What do you walk on ? 

J". The ground. 

Albert. No ! almost. Where do they put dead people ? 

I. In a cemetery. 

Albert. Yes, that's right (laughing). 

I". Is that what you call a soul ? 

Albert. I'm mad with Edgar Smith now, and I'm going 
to let out about that secret. 'Twas making a cemetery. We 
saved up all the tin boxes we could find last summer, and 
went after bugs. Then we put straw in the box for flowers, 
and buried them. If they were good bugs, we put flowers in 
the coffin. 

I asked if they had a funeral. He said, " Yes ; sometimes 
we made-believe cry. Then we made a sharp hole like this 
cane, and put the box in." 



GROUP V. 117 

I. Did you have any special place for the cemetery ? 

Albert. Yes, by a big tree ; and we put stones over the 
box, and then we could dig it up to see if the bugs had gone 
to heaven. 

I. You haven't told me about the soul yet. 

Albert. Well, Edgar Smith [9 years] said not to let 
anybody know about our cemetery ; so when he wanted me to 
go with him, he said, " How about souls ? " The rest didn't 
know what he meant. 

667. Caro. Age, 6 years, 3 months. Caro has been to 
school two and a half months, and plays school frequently. 
She claps her hands, and scolds her pupils for talking aloud. 
When I visited her school I recognized many of the teacher's 
motions that Caro had reproduced at home. 

668. Fred. Age, 6 years, 3 months. On Monday night 
Fred saw the torchlight procession. On Tuesday he tied a 
tin cover to his waist by putting a string through the wire 
loop, put a toy lantern, which was not lighted, on a long stick 
for a torch, and came in beating the tin cover and shouting? 
"Grandpa, Grandpa, the torchlight procession is coming." 

669. James. Age, 6 years, 3 months. James was rub- 
bing a clothes-brush on the wall. I asked him what he was 
doing, and he said, "Papering." 

670. Harry. Age, 6 years, 5 months. I gave Harry 
three words to write from a book. When he had written 
them, he asked me to be the teacher, and see if any were 
wrong. Only one was wrong, but he wished me to put a 
cross after two of them. He then asked for more words to 
copy; and when he had written them, he asked me to place 
" 10 " after each. He said, " We can play school good, can't 
we ? " 

671. Bertha. Age, 6 years, 5 months. Bertha often 
" plays the piano " on the seat of a chair. She places a book 
before her, and sometimes sings as well as plays. 



118 IMITATION. 

672. Mabel. Age, 6 years, 5 months. Mabel picked 
some berries from the woodbine, and proposed to play store, 
and have them for candy. She asked what kind of candy 
they should be, and I said the kind she liked best. "Then 
we'll call them peppermints," she said. 

673. Bessie. Age, 6 years, 5 months. Bessie was play- 
ing school with imaginary pupils. I heard her say, " Florence, 
did I see your lips moving ? " 

674. Dexter. Age, 6 years, 5 months. Dexter's father 
is a minister, and Dexter has a habit of going to certain 
houses in the neighborhood to "preach." He wants some one 
to play and sing one verse of a hymn, then he takes his place 
a little apart and " preaches." What he says cannot be 
understood because his speech is imperfect. One day he 
asked for a hat. A man's soft felt hat was offered him, but 
he refused it. (His father wears a derby.) A choice was 
then offered him, and he selected a woman's hat trimmed 
with artificial flowers. He kept it beside him while he 
preached. 

675. George. Age, 6 years, 6 months. George had 
learned at school the story of " Piggie Wig and Piggie Wee," 
in which the children put up their thumbs to represent 
Piggie. To-night George asked his uncle to hold up his 
thumbs. George held his thumbs up, and said, " Now, Piggie 
Wig and Piggie Wee, you have got to fight those big pigs, 
and kill them if you can." He then pressed his thumbs 
against his uncle's, and after a moment said the little pigs 
had beaten the large ones. 

676. Mabel. Age, 6 years, 6 months. Mabel played 
school with Anna and Ernest. When she called the roll, she 
named a dozen or more pupils, and Anna and Ernest answered 
to all the names. She gave them books, and told them what 



GEOUP V. 119 

the lessons were. After that there was nothing bnt miscon- 
duct and punishment. 

677. George. Age, 6 years, 6 months. George had seen 
blackberries growing for the first time. He was playing in 
the yard with his younger brother, and walked from tree to 
tree, picking off leaves, giving them to his brother, and saying, 
" Here, baby, are some berries," and, " Oh, come here ! here's 
a nice lot." 

678. Carrie. Age, 6 years, 6 months. Herbert. Age, 
4 years. Carrie and Herbert were playing with dolls. Carrie 
was going from the house to the barn for a doll's cradle she 
had left there. She called back, ''Now, Herbie, you take good 
care of her, and don't let her fall. And if we have company, 
you go to the door, and tell them to walk in ; mamma has 
gone for a cradle." 

679. Davis. Age, 6 years, 6 months. Davis read a story 
at school about John and his coach. A picture accompanied 
the story. When he came home he placed a chair and some 
boots in the position occupied by the coach in the picture, and 
asked me to take a ride. He said he was John. 

680. Georgie. Age, 6 years, 7 months. Last night 
Georgie asked me to play school with her, and took the part 
of teacher herself. She sat at the end of the table, and called 
the roll. I think she called the name of every child in the 
school. I answered " present," until she called a certain boy's 
name, when she said, " You mustn't say present ; he's going 
to be absent. Does any one know where J. L. is to-day ? " 
I said, " I guess he's sick." — " Oh, no, he isn't ! " she said, 
" I guess he's run away again. I shall give his name to Mr. 
English when he comes. He's a real bad boy." In the spell- 
ing-class she named the pupils as she gave out the words; 
and I spelled correctly until she said, " This word you must 



120 IMITATION. 

miss." I did so, and this gave her the opportunity to punish 
me which she desired. 

681. Buth. Age, 6 years, 7 months. I saw E,uth and 
two other children pricking holes in clover-leaves with a pin. 
Ruth said they were making lace. She remembered that I 
used to do the same thing, though that must have been as 
much as two years ago. 

682. Lulu. Age, 6 years, 7 months. I thought of an 
amusing incident and laughed. "What are you laughing 
at ? " asked Lulu. " My thoughts," I replied. Soon after 
Lulu gave a forced laugh. I said nothing until it was re- 
peated ; then I asked, " What are you laughing at ? " — " My 
thoughts," she replied. 

683. Walter. Age, 6 years, 8 months. When the clock 
struck four Walter imitated the sound of the fire-alarm, took 
two sticks which he used as hose, and ran into the next 
room, making a hissing sound. He did this seven times, and 
each time, on being asked what the fire was, told a new story 
as to its origin and the loss. 

684. Anna. Age, 6 years, 9 months. I was reading in 
the sitting-room, when Anna came in, and seated herself at 
the piano. She played and sang, and from time to time 
turned the leaves of a music-book. She continued this for 
half an hour with great enjoyment apparently. 



GROUP VI. 121 



GROUP VI. 

Ages between 7 and 8. 



685. Unknown. Age, 6 and 7 years. Several children 
were playing "house" on the sidewalk. As I passed, one 
child said, " I came to visit you, and have brought my child." 
To which the hostess replied, " I am sorry ; they are so noisy 
that they make me nervous. I detest children." 

686. Unknown. Age, 6 or 7 years. I hummed a tune as 
I walked home last night. A little girl passed me, and I soon 
heard her humming the same tune. 

687. Margaret. Age, 6 or 7 years. I used to tie a 
towel around the washboard, and connect the washboard by 
a string to a salt-box in which I had placed my doll. I then 
took hold of the top of the board, and drew it along in an 
upright position. I called it Nellie Walker, and told other 
people it was a nurse. 

688. Nellie. Age, about 6 or 7 years. Nellie can re- 
member that she used to roll in a sand-bank at some distance 
from our house. Her hair was long and loose ; and she rubbed 
it in the sand, and tangled it, acting, as she said, like a wild 
animal. She liked very much to play she was a dog. 

689. Unknown. Age, 6 or 7 years. A brass band was 
playing, and marching through the streets. In front of it was 
a crowd of boys. One boy was directly in front of the musi- 
cians, playing on clappers, and marching in perfect time. The 
other boys were walking in the usual manner. 



122 IMITATION. 

690. Unknown. Age, about 6 or 7 years. Four children 
were playing " school " on the sidewalk. The " teacher " made 
all the others kneel with their heels against the house. 

691. Unknown. Age, 6 or 7 years. I took out my hand- 
kerchief, and wiped my face. This girl, who was looking at 
me, immediately used her handkerchief. 

692. Annie. Age, 6 or 7 years. I used to put on two 
aprons, one in front and the other behind. I wanted the one 
I wore at the back to be longer than the other. I then stood 
in front of the looking-glass, and imitated the motions of some 
woman I had seen. 

693. Alice. Age, about 6 or 7 years. When we made 
mud pies, we pounded pieces of brick to powder, and made 
frosting for the pies. 

694. Unknown. Age, about 6 or 7 years. Two girls 
and two boys were marching in file, each with a stick in his 
hand, and imitating as well as he could the sound of a drum. 

695. Mrs. C . Age, about 7 years. My mother re- 
members that, at the time of the Parkman murder in Boston, 
she and her playmates, all girls, appointed policemen, and 
held a court for the trial of Dr. Webster, who was repre- 
sented by a worm. The sentence was " Hanging until he 
dies." The worm was hung to a fence. 

696. Name Unknown. Age, 6 or 7 years. This boy ran 
like a horse, at the same time puffing like an engine. He ran 
up to a post, and went through the motions of letting on 
water through a hose and making a hissing sound. Then he 
sounded the " All-out " alarm by beating a tin pan. While 
beating the pan he laughed very much. 

697. Names Unknown. Age, 6 or 7 years. Two boys 
were capering about on the sidewalk on all fours, and barking 



GROUP VI 123 

like dogs. As I approached them, one said, "We're grey- 
hounds." 

698. Julia. Age, about 6 or 7 years. We used to climb 
up on the roof of a shed, spread out our arms, and give a 
spring. We called it flying. We came down rather hard, 
but we took great pleasure in it, nevertheless. 

699. Unknown. Age, about 7 years. I saw a girl kneel- 
ing on the ground about three feet from a fence, her hands 
clasped in the attitude of prayer. Close to the fence, and di- 
rectly beneath a painted sign attached to the fence, were two 
bundles, apparently from a grocer's, and an account-book. 
Other children were playing on the other side of the fence, 
and persons were constantly passing within a few feet of 
the girl. 

700. Henry. Age, about 7 years. Henry had placed 
one end of a piece of iron pipe about two feet long against an 
opening in the underpinning of a house, and was talking 
through the pipe. 

701. Emily. Age, 7 years. Albert. Age, 4 years. 
Emily and Albert play in a pile of sand. Yesterday they 
dug up clover, choosing only that in full blossom, and 
planted it in the sand, watering it. To-day the clover was 
withered, but they watered it carefully. 

702. Frank. Age, 7 years. George. Age, 4 years. 
Frank. My papa's going to get me some glasses. 
George. No, sir, he's going to get me a pair. 

Frank. No, he won't ! You've got black eyes. He's 
going to get me a pair. 

George. He's going to get me two pairs. 

Frank says he wants to wear glasses because it makes him 
look like his grandfather; George wants them because his 
auntie wears them. 



124 IMITATION. 

703. Several Children. Age, 4 to 7 years. These chil- 
dren were playing school on the steps of a honse. The 
" teacher " said, " Now you may go out to play." No sooner 
were they out than she rapped on the steps, saying, "Ding- 
a-ling, school come in." When they were seated on the steps, 
she told them to fold their hands and sit straight. Then 
I heard, " Willie, didn't I tell you to sit up and fold your 
hands ? Why don't you mind me ? You may spell cat, Clara." 
Clara could not. Another child did, and they all spelled it 
after her. 

704. Henry. Age, 7 years. Louis. Age, 4 years. 
Henry had a long stick with a rope tied around it. Louis 
had a rope tied to his arm, and carried a small stool. A 
group of boys stood around them. From their movements I 
think they were an organ-grinder and a monkey. When they 
moved from place to place, Henry put the stick on his shoul- 
der, and led Louis by the rope attached to his arm. Louis 
passed his hat around, and the lookers-on put small stones 
in it. 

705. Unknown. Age, 7 and 4 (?) years. I saw these 
children dig up a dilapidated rag doll. In a few minutes 
they buried it again, saying, " She's dead." 

706. Several Children. Age, 5 to 7 years. A child 
brought colored chalk to school. Since then some child has 
brought it nearly every day. 

707. D . Age, 7 years. F . Age, 5 years. 

J . Age, 2 years. These children were all kneeling on 

the seat of a rocking-chair, with their faces towards the back 

of the chair, and rocking rapidly. Their father told D to 

sit down and stop rocking. He said, " Why papa, we're go- 
ing to the fire ! " They continued to rock for a few moments ; 
then J got out of the chair, picked up his whip, and 



GROUP VI. 125 

pointed the handle towards the wall of the room, and all 

three made a sound of " sh-sh-sh-sh " very fast. D said, 

" Now, papa, see us squirt the hose." 

708. Several Children. Age, 5 to 7 years. When I 
was examining the children's writing, Carrie asked if she 
might carry her slate home to show to her mother. Imme- 
diately six or seven other children asked the same thing. 

709. J . Age, 5 years. A . Age, 6 years. 

P . Age, 7 years. As I was about to enter a room, the 

children called out, " Don't come in here ; wait a minute, and 
then you will see a Dutch dog. At length they let me in. 

J was under the sofa as far as his waist. A shawl was 

thrown over him, and tied around his fists, which he held up, 

making something that looked a little like a head. A 

asked such questions as these ; " Do you like Amy ? Can 
you sing ? M etc. The dog did whatever he was told, shak- 
ing his head for yes and no. The children thought I did not 
know what it was, and laughed and clapped their hands when 
I asked what it was. 

710. Several Children. Age, 5 to 7 years. The chil- 
dren saw me laughing heartily this morning. They had no 
means of knowing why I laughed, but they all laughed. 

711. Winnie. Age, 7 years. Fred. Age, 5 years. 
Winnie and Fred were playing school. Fred said, " Let's say 
onr verses." Each stood in the centre of the room, made a 
bow, said a verse, and made another bow. They continued 
this until they had said all they knew. 

712. Maggie. Age, 7 years. Alice. Age, 5 years. 
Maggie and Alice placed a board across two chairs for a coun- 
ter, at one end of which they put the scales, consisting of a 
tin cover and two flat-irons. Cracker crumbs served for 
white, and gingerbread crumbs for brown sugar. A few 



126 IMITATION. 

pieces of broken stick were raisins, and two pasteboard boxes 
were packages of cornstarch.. They played storekeeper and 
customer in turn for about two hours, using bits of green 
paper for money. 

713. Willie. Age, 7 years. John. Age, 6 years. Al- 
bert. Age, 5 years. These children play fire very often. 
Two are horses, and one driver. They cry, " 0-6-6-6-dang- 
dong, 6-6-6-6-dang-dong." Then, at a word from the driver, 
they are off. In a short time they give the same signal to 
denote that the fire is out, and come back where they started 
from. 

714. Prank. Age, 7 years. Anna. Age, 5 years. I 
heard the bell ring several times, and knew that somebody 
answered it. I went to see what was the matter, and found 
Frank on the doorstep with a basket slung on his shoulder by 
a strap. In it were folded pieces of paper. He was ringing 
the bell, and Anna was taking in the letters. 

715. Several Children. Age, 5 to 7 years. These 
children were playing school on a doorstep. The "teacher" 
gave Clarence a stick, and taught him to write on the side of 
the house for a blackboard. 

716. Fred. Age, 7 years. Anna. Age, 5 years. I 
told the children a story of a cat, Miss Kittie, and a dog, Mr. 
Dodo. Mr. Dodo came to take Miss Kittie to ride. The 
dress of both was described. A few days afterwards I saw 
them acting the story, Fred being the dog, and Anna the cat. 

717. Thomas. Age, 7 years. Winifred. Age, 5 years. 
Thomas kept store, and Winifred came to buy. She bought 
sugar chiefly, and pretended to pay for everything out of an 
empty pocketbook. 

718. Eva. Age, 7 years. Blanche. Age, 6 years. Eva 
and Blanche, and a third girl whom I did not know, were play- 



GROUP VI. 127 

ing school in the dooryard. They had a seat for two placed 
against the fence, a plank in front of it for a platform, a 
board three feet long for a music-board (?), which they were 
holding in their laps, and a stick about four feet long, used to 
punish with. They had set off a corner of the yard by means 
of sticks for a dressing-room. When I entered the yard they 
did not seem to see me, and went on with their play. Eva 
stood on the platform, stick in hand. She was saying, " You 
naughty girl, go right straight into the dressing-room ! " The 
two other girls danced up and down, saying, " Yaw, yaw, yaw," 
etc. — " Then I shall take you in," said Eva. " Yaw, yaw, 
yaw," said the girls again. Then Eva said, " You take this 
right hand up to Mr. Lewis, and he will see to you." With 
much whipping and loud talking the girl was at length got 
into the dressing-room. I said to the remaining girl, " So she 
has got to take her right hand, has she ? " to which she re- 
plied, "When she says that she means business." I entered 
the house, but could hear plainly what was going on. It was 
not long before they changed the play to " church." Blanche 
stood on the platform, and talked in a sing-song tone for about 
four minutes. The only words I caught were, " Love Jesus." 
They sang, and Eva talked. Just then Eva's brother, five 
years old, came into the yard. Eva said, "0 Mr. Lewis! 
Blanche has been a very naughty girl. She talked out loud 

and sang while was speaking." She then held out her 

right hand towards Blanche, and said, "You go take this 
right hand to Mr. Lewis." The last I saw of them the boy 
had Blanche in the dressing-room whipping her, as I thought, 
pretty severely. 

719. Thomas. Age, 7 years. Gertrude. Age, 6 years. 
Thomas and Emily were to be married, and Gertrude was to 
be the minister. The bride and bridegroom, preceded by the 
minister, walked slowly several times around the dining-table, 
and stopped in front of the sideboard. Gertrude said, 



128 IMITATION. 

" Thomas, you may take hold of Emily's nancL and put on the 
ring." 

Thomas made-believe put on the ring. Gertrude said^ 
"What God had put together, let no man put asunder." 
Thomas and Emily bowed very low. Gertrude stretched out 
both arms, and said, " Now, I say, you're married. Let us 
pray. Bear Jesus, will you please forgive this couple for 
getting married, and forgive us all our sins for Jesus' sake, 
Amen." 

720. Unknown. Age, about 7 years. Several children 
stopped at the foot of the church steps. One said, "Well, 
it's time for us to be off. Say good-by to auntie ; we're going 
to Boston." They went to the top of the steps and sat down. 
One said, " mamma, isn't Boston lovely ? " 

721. Unknown. Age, about 7 years. Two children play- 
ing " house " were using a barrel lying on its side and propped 
up with stones for a china-closet. In it were bits of broken 
crockery. 

722. Unknown. Age, about 7 years. This boy was run- 
ning along the street dragging by a string a tin plate. The 
string was passed through a hole in the centre of the plate, 
and fastened by what looked like a button. Sometimes he 
dragged it, and sometimes he jerked it high in the air. 

723. Henry. Age, about 7 years. Henry was sitting on 
the fence, holding a stick with a string tied to it. The end of 
the string was in a mud-puddle. I asked if he caught 
fish. He looked surprised, and said, " Fishes don't grow in 
mud-puddles. Didn't you know it ? I am playing catch some 
for mamma, but there are not any there." 

724. Three Boys. Age, about 7 years. Two boys had 
taken off their caps and jackets, and were standing on a line, 
ready to run. Another boy stood against a lamp-post ; and 



GROUP VI. 129 

when the two looked at hini, he said, " Are you ready ? Then 
go ! " They ran off ; and when they came back he said, " It's 
Col's race ! " They tried it again ; but the starter said it was 
a tie, and I left them quarrelling over it. 

725. Unknown. Age, about 7 years. I wrote a word on 
the blackboard to show the teacher the vertical script. At 
the time two or three girls were in the back part of the room 
doing examples on the blackboard. On looking round I saw 
that one of the girls had written the word I wrote, and had 
used the vertical style. 

726. Many Children. Age, about 7 years. I asked 
Charlie to draw on paper the same thing he had drawn on his 
slate. The next time I went among the children, all in 
Charlie's vicinity had drawn something on their slates, most 
of them the same thing that Charlie drew. 

727. Margaret. Age, about 7 years. I remember stand- 
ing on a stool, and making-believe play the piauo on a sewing- 
machine cover. I placed a music-book in front of me. 

728. Unknown. Age, about 7 years. The sign at a cer- 
tain cigar store is an image holding what looks like a bunch 
of cigars in its hand. I saw a boy walk up to the image, pre- 
tend to take a cigar from the bunch, raise his hand to his 
mouth, and puff as if smoking. 

729. James. Age, about 7 years. James uses his ex- 
press-wagon as an electric car. He said, " Put on the trolley." 

730. Katie. Age, about 7 years. When Katie plays 
" school " she often says to a pupil who turns his eyes up- 
ward as if trying to think of an answer, " John, you will not 
find the answer written in the sky." 

731. Frances. Age, about 7 years. I used to pretend I 
was a dog, and take Rover's milk away from him, go down on 
my hands and knees, and lap it up. 



130 IMITATION. 

732. Unknown. Age, about 7 years. Some telegraph 
poles lay beside the road. A boy was sitting on one end of 
them, looking at the diameter, and saying, " Sixty-fire inches 
and sixty-nine." 

733. Grace. Age, about 7 years. I was climbing up a 
ledge with my sister. I caught hold of a grape-vine which 
hung over a dangerous mass of rocks, and swung on it. Any 
one seeing me could not but have inferred that I was " show- 
ing off ; " but in reality I was playing that I was a fairy, or 
an Indian girl after the manner of jSTokomis, whose story had 
been told me. 

734. Eddie. Age, 7 years. When he came home from 
church, Eddie took his little sister into a room, and went 
through with the service, and preached a sermon. He stood 
by a table, and used a book. 

735. Eannie. Age, 7 years. In the reading-lesson was 
the sentence "The hen laid an egg." Eannie stood up and 
said, " Teacher, our cow laid a little cow, and he walks awful 
funny." Then she got down on the floor, and showed how the 
calf ran about. 

736. Flora. Age, 7 years. I thought my cousin Bert 
very nice. At one time he did not eat butter on his bread, 
but ate sirup instead. I ate sirup instead of butter for 
nearly six weeks, solely because he did so. 

737. George. Age, 7 years. George heard of a man 
who got some money by subscription. He got a friend to 
write a petition for him, and he passed it around among 
the people of the neighborhood until he had money enough 
to buy a fishpole. 

738. May. Age, 7 years. May saw me gathering wild- 
flowers. After I had left the field, she gathered the same 
species that I had gathered. I saw her with as many as 



GROUP VI. 131 

she could carry. She apparently had no purpose in gath- 
ering them. A playmate asked her what she was going to 
do with them, and she replied that she was going to 
throw them in the yard. 

739. Frank. Age, 7 years. Frank's father trained a 
colt. For six days Frank has annoyed his mother by playing 
that he is a horse. When crossing a room he stamps his 
feet ; sometimes he goes on all fours ; in the centre of a 
room he stops suddenly, and kicks into the air, describing 
a circle as he kicks. At another time he faces the corner of 
the room, kicks vigorously, and neighs. As a punishment 
he was shut in a room by himself, but he continued his 
outlandish guttural sounds. When put in a chair he still 
kicked and neighed. When asked to do anything he said, 
" I can't, I'm a wild horse." On Monday there was to be 
cottage pudding for dinner, and he is very fond of it. In- 
stead of putting his chair in its usual place, his mother placed 
it at a side-table, where there was nothing but oats and hay. 
When his mother put him in his chair he thought she was 
playing ; then he looked puzzled, and finally cried bitterly, 
saying, " I ain't a horse, I won't be a horse." 

740. Richard. Age, 7 years. On a small table in the 
dooryard Richard had several pieces of candy, short lead- 
pencils, and violets. He sold the violets and pencils for pins, 
but the candy was a cent a piece. 

741. Kitty. Age, 7 years. I called on Kitty's sister last 
night. When I had taken my hat off, Kitty looked at me 
attentively for a few minutes and then left the room. When 
she returned she said, " Now I have a comb like yours." She 
had put strings through the holes of a dress-steel, and tied it 
around her head for a fillet. 

742. Adelbert. Age, 7 years. I saw Adelbert running 
with his wheelbarrow, and three boys following him. He 



132 IMITATION. 

stopped at the faucet where the hose is put on to water the 
yard, took the hose from his wheelbarrow, and made-believe 
put out a fire. One of the boys ran up and down the em- 
bankment, playing he was going up a ladder to the fire. 

743. Angie. Age, 7 years. We had an indoor recess yes- 
terday ; and this girl when I noticed her stood at the black- 
board, pointer in hand, pointing to the figures that had been 
used in the number lesson. No child was near her, and as 
soon as she saw that I was looking at her she put down the 
pointer and walked away. 

744. Unknown. Age, about 7 years. This boy was dip- 
ping up water from a puddle in the street with an old coffee- 
pot, and crying at the top of his voice, " Have some ? Nice 
hot coffee all ready now ; only five cents a gallon ! " 

745. Mollie. Age, 7 years. Mollie was seated at a desk 
on which she had piled blocks, and around her were several 
little children, singing. Mollie called the blocks her piano, 
and played while the children sang. 

746. Flora. Age, 7 years. My cousin and I often buried 
dead ducks or chickens. As I remember them, the arrange- 
ments and funeral services were complete. We used a box 
lined with cotton for a coffin, put flowers around the head, 
and used a doll's carriage for a hearse. One of us personated 
a minister, and the others mourners. We dug a grave before- 
hand, and held a service there, as well as at the house. We 
stuck up a piece of shingle for a headstone, and put flowers 
on the grave. 

747. Fanny. Age, 7 years. My cousin and I played 
" farm " in a sand-heap. We had toy carts, wagons, horses, 
and other animals. Our vegetables were chestnuts, small 
potatoes, and apples. We sometimes spent all day at the 
" farm." If my cousin was not with me I played alone, and 



GROUP VI. 133 

told him how much I had done when he came bach. Some- 
times we owned the farm together, and sometimes one of us 
worked for the other. 

748. Myra. Age, 7 years. Myra had a box with a glass 
cover. She put her doll into the box, and said, " This is her 
coffin now." 

749. Frank and James. Age, 7 years. These boys 
marched around the dooryard twice, and then in different 
places left bouquets of apple-blossoms. Frank asked me if I 
had seen the soldiers' graves. He said every bunch of apple- 
blossoms was on a soldier's grave. 

750. Adelbert. Age, 7 years. Adelbert was sitting on 
the footboard of a bed, driving three chairs for horses. His 
sister's toy clothes-wringer was fastened on to the bed beside 
him. He asked me if I knew what it was. I said I guessed 
it was a brake. He said, " Yes ; all I have to do is to turn 
the handle when I go down hill, and it stops right off." 

751. Several Children. Age, about 7 years. I heard 
one of these children say, " If I can't be husband I won't 
play." I afterwards asked one of them what they were play- 
ing. She said they were playing " Noah," and the child I 
heard speaking always wanted to be Noah, and never was 
willing to be an elephant. She also said a rainy day was 
the nicest time to play " Noah." 

752. Edward. Age, about 7 years. I saw Edward run- 
ning through a dusty street, dragging after him a birch broom 
such as is used in stables. He made such a dust that I could 
scarcely see him. As he came near me he called out, " Look 
out for the engine ! " 

753. Four Children. Oldest, 7 years. These children 
were marching about the yard, holding pine branches above 
their heads. The two oldest were singing, " So we sang the 



131 IMITATION. 

chorus from Atlanta to the sea," etc. All that the youngest 
could sing was, "Marching through Georgia;" but he sang 
that loud enough to be heard above the rest. 

754. Clyde. Age, 7 years. Clyde had made what he 
called a rooster, and asked me to come and see it. A large 
green apple was the body, nails were stuck in for feet, a stick 
formed the neck, and another the tail. A piece of paper made 
the head ; but he changed this for a small apple, and said he 
thought it looked better. 

755. Joe. Age, 7 years. Joe was standing at the sink, 
drinking a glass of water. He had his back towards the 
room. I heard him talking to himself, and went nearer to 
him. He leaned up against the sink, crossed his feet, and 
made some remarks about the quality of the drink which I 
could not hear. When he had drunk the water he put the 
glass on a shelf, paid an imaginary bartender, received 
change, and left the sink, remarking, " That's all right. I 
guess I'll be going now." 

756. Nina. Age, 7 years. Addie. Age, 4 years. We 
had a knob which came off the top of a wire cover. We 
named it Methuselah ; and although we knew that Methuselah 
was the oldest man who ever lived, we ignored this fact, and 
made him the richest man that ever lived. We built him 
great houses, and pretended that he owned extensive fields, 
and more sheep than anybody else. But we never gave him 
any cows or horses. We had small stones for sheep. After 
we had built his house we had robbers come and tear it down, 
and bury Methuselah in the ruins, where he smothered. We 
always spoke of a Mrs. Methuselah, but I do not remember 
that we had anything to represent her. The pleasure of 
playing this lasted all one summer. 

757. Two Boys. Age, 7 (?) years. On Sunday night a 
fire occurred in our town. On Monday afternoon I saw two 



GROUP VI. 135 

boys running rapidly down a street, dragging a two-wheeled 
cart. They stopped in front of a house, and took something 
from the cart, and pointed it at the house. 

758. Two Girls. Age, — years. One girl stood on the 
piazza, the other on the ground. The one on the piazza would 
point to a clapboard, and the other would sing one of the 
tones of the scale. 

759. Mary. Age, 7 years. Grace. Age, 6 years. A 
man with a hand-organ and a monkey had been about. I 
saw Mary and Grace playing in the yard. Mary had a toy 
trumpet, which she blew at the door of the house. Grace 
jumped about, tried to climb posts and trees, and pretended 
to eat like a monkey. Mary held Grace by a long string. 
They were very serious in their make-believe. I watched 
them for an hour at least, and did not see them laugh. 

760. Three Boys. Age, 5, 6, and 7 years. These boys 
have certain pickets in a fence to represent them. They 
throw balls of mud from the road against the fence ; and when 
a ball strikes a picket the thrower says, shouting, " There ! I 
hit you. that time." 

761. Emeline. Age, about 7 years. I had seen nuns 
several times, and admired them. I dressed myself as much 
like one as I could, by putting on my mother's black shawl, 
and holding her rosary and a handkerchief. 

762. Albert. Age, 7 years. Albert struck the nuts of the 
wagon-wheels with a hammer, and said, " I'm a railroad man." 

763. Jaxe. Age, 7 years. I liked to play that I was a 
cat. I walked on my hands and feet, mewed, and lapped 
milk from a saucer. My mother wished me to give up the 
play, and gave me only milk in the cat's dish for my supper. 
T did not drink it, and when I. played " cat " again was out of 
her sight. 



13G IMITATION. 

764. Mabel. Age, about 7 years. My sister and I used 
to repeat Mother Goose rhymes, and act them out. The one 
I liked best for this was : — 

" Jack, be nimble, Jack, be quick ! 
Jack, jump over tbe candlestick!" 

Anything served the purpose of a candlestick. 

765. Dannie. Age, 7 years, 1 month. Dannie set up a 
few dominoes on the end. At a little distance from these 
he arranged others in a hollow square. He blew his breath 
strongly on those standing on end, and when they fell over 
picked them up and put them within the square. When 
asked, he said the upright ones were soldiers ; when he blew 
them over they were shot. They had been good, and could go 
to heaven. The hollow square was heaven. 

766. Louis. Age, 7 years, 2 months. Louis said, "This 
is the sun." He stood up straight, squinted his eyes, and 
drew up his mouth at the corners. Then he turned around 
and around. " Is that the way the sun does ? " I asked. He 
made no reply, but kept on turning around. 

767. Alice. Age, 7 years, 4 months. Alice went to a 
wedding for the first time two weeks ago. Yesterday she 
asked if she might take her mother's waterproof circular 
cloak. She went into the bedroom, and soon came back with 
the hood of the cloak on her head, and the cloak hanging at 
her back, a ribbon having been tied around the neck of it to 
keep it together in a bunch. She threw the cloak over her 
left arm, and, walking across the floor, said, " This is the way 
the bride looked, only she had some flowers," 

768. Mary. Age, 7 years, 4 months. Mary asked to 
have some small disks cut from pasteboard. They were given 
to her, and she left the house. When she returned she said, 
" You gave me just circles enough." — " What did you want 



GROUP VI. 137 

them for ? " I asked. She explained that a neighbor's little 
boy had a swing, which they called the horse-car. When they 
rode in the car they paid their fare, and the disks were money 
for that purpose. 

769. Nathan. Age, 7 years, 5 months. Nathan ex- 
plained how he got the eggs from the hencoop. He said, 
" You know the hen was pretty cross, and I was afraid she 
would pick me. You know the things we put over puddings 
and things in summer ? Well, I put one of those over the hen, 
and then I got the eggs." 

770. Charles. Age, 7 years, 5 months. Charles's cousin 
had a birthday party ; but she lived so far away that Charles 
could not go, much to his disappointment. A few days after, 
he said, " I wish I knew when Timothy's birthday was, so I 
could send for Peter to come and celebrate with him." (Tim- 
othy is our cat, and Peter is a neighbor's cat.) 

771. Harry. Age, 7 years, 6 months. Harry tied a 
handkerchief around his head, and stuck hens' feathers be- 
tween the handkerchief and his head so that they stood up 
straight. 

772. Gertrude. Age, 7 years, 6 months. Gertrude 
played school, and for her use made what she called a register 
of paper tags. On one she wrote the names of boys, on an- 
other the names of girls, and ruled two others like the pages 
of an attendance-book. 

773. Mary. Age, 7 years, 6 months. Mary rocked her 
slate back and forth like a doll. After a few seconds she 
laid it down tenderly on her desk. She then sat back and 
folded her arms, but very soon seized her slate and beat it 
with her pencil, talking to it, and scowling. 

774. Harold. Age, 7 years, 6 months. Last night Harold 
dressed up as a girl. He wanted a train on every dress. 



138 IMITATION. 

775. Anna. Age, 7 years, 11 months. Anna, her grand- 
father, and I were in the library. I was reading, and Anna 
was bending over a newspaper and talking to herself. She 
asked many questions, and often used my name. I gave little 
attention ; but I distinguished the questions, " What's that 
you're reading ? Who spoke then ? < Ella ; Ella ! ' Who 
said that ? " At length, in reply to the last question, I said, 
" Anna said that." She then laughed, and said she was try- 
ing to talk gruff, that I might think grandpa was speaking. 



GROUP VII. 139 



GROUP VII. 

Ages between 8 and 9. 



776. Several Children. Age, 3 to 8 years. The teacher 
of the infant class at Sunday-school taught the children a song 
by rote. She stood before the class, and kept time with her 
head. The row of little heads before her bobbed in imitation. 

777. Several Children. Age, 3 to 8 years. The chil- 
dren came to meet me in the street. Annie had a gunny 
bag over her shoulders for a shawl, and carried a large box 
under her arm. The other children had their hats turned up 
in front. One child said, " We're playing ' house,' and we're 
going to Sweden too." Another said, " Yes ; and if we don't 
hurry, our train will be gone." — " And we have truly tick- 
ets," showing me advertisement cards. " We haven't money 
enough to go in the cars or the ship all the way ; so we will 
have to row in a boat part of the way, and sometimes when 
we get tired we can hitch on to some other boat, and ride that 
way, for we have only got ten cents." 

778. Three Girls. Age, 4 to 8 years. Three girls were 
playing " steamboat " on a pile of wood. Several places on 
the pile were called stairs ; there were bedrooms, a hall, a 
kitchen, and sitting-room. A watering-pot was a lantern. To 
stop the steamboat they moved certain designated sticks of 
wood, and to start it moved the same sticks back again. The 
youngest child was the lady of the steamboat. They stopped 
to allow her to get off, and after a few minutes came back 
after her. 



140 IMITATION. 

779. Three Girls. Age, 4, 7, and 8 years. The girl of 
seven said to the girl of eight, " You play we are going out of 
the yard, and you call us and we can't hear." They ran out 
of the yard, and the older girl called in a high pitch of voice, 
" Mary, Mary ! " No one answered, and she called still 
louder. Both children came. 

780. Grace. Age, 8 years. Nellie. Age, 5 years. 
Nellie and I used to play that she was my lover. We used a 
chair for a piano, on which I played ; and we sang a song, the 
words and music being original. The words were : — 

" Richmond, Richmond, 
And he squeezed her hand; 
Richmond, Richmond, 
And he kissed her again." 

Richmond was Nellie's assumed name. When we sang, " And 
he squeezed her hand," Nellie squeezed my hand. We also 
acted the kissing line. I have no idea how the play origi- 
nated. 

781. Marion. Age, 8 years. Stanley. Age, 5 years. 
Marion and Stanley have played " church " several Sunday 
afternoons in succession. Last Sunday after dinner, without 
saying anything to each other, Stanley brought his mother's 
sewing-table, and arranged it for a pulpit, and Marion brought 
singing-books and Bibles. 

Stanley stood up behind the table ; and Marion seated her- 
self on the lounge, and bowed her head upon a chair in front of 
her. Stanley repeated the Lord's Prayer, and they sang each 
his own tune. Stanley blew a little whistle before they sang, 
but whether in imitation of the organ or not I do not know. 
Stanley turned the leaves of the Bible as if looking for a 
particular passage. His mother said, "You can tell about 
Daniel." (This was the only suggestion made to them.) 
Stanley told the story of Daniel, and when he had finished it 



GROUP VII. 141 

both the children asked questions about it, and the meeting 
had no formal ending. 

782. Katie. Age, 6 to 8 years. My sister and I used to 
take turns playing " store ; " she being the storekeeper one 
day, and I the next. Each collected her own stock of things 
to sell, mostly broken dishes. We had but three prices, — one 
ceut, five cents, and ten cents. The five-cent piece was a 
square piece of paper with a design drawn on it, and the ten- 
cent piece differed from it only in having a somewhat more 
elaborate design. 

783. Several Children - . Age, 6 to 8 years. There had 
been exercises at school commemorating the discovery of 
America. I saw these boys apparently imitating the exer- 
cises. Three boys stood behind a long bench, and one boy 
stood in front of them with a bell in his hand. When the 
boy rang the bell, which he did vigorously, the others filed 
out from behind the bench, and stood around a tree. They 
strained their necks to look at the top of the tree, and sang 
" America " and " The Star Spangled Banner." 

784. Rupert. Age, 6 to 8 years. I was very fond of 
tracing handwriting. Whenever I could obtain notes or 
exercises written by my older sisters T traced them carefully. 
I preferred faint writing and a black pencil. I could not 
read. 

785. Several Children. Age, 5 to 8 years. These 
children were playing church. The '-minister" stood on a 
box. The " choir " stood on a settee. The minister said, 
"Now, Avhen I say hymn 237 you must all start and sing 
'Yankee Doodle.'" 

786. Several Boys. Age, 6 to 8 years. These boys 
" drilled " for nearly two hours. Two had drums, and four or 
five had wooden guns. They had strips of white cloth pinned 



142 IMITATION. 

down the seams of their trousers. When the captain gave an 
order, he turned around to see that it was obeyed. If he said, 
"Left wheel," he told them which was "left." The boys 
often told one another that they were out of step. 

787. Jane and Mary. Age, 7 or 8 years. One morning 
I went to school with my hair parted in the middle. In the 
afternoon Mary came with her hair parted in the same way, 
and the next day Jane had tried to part hers. 

788. George and Henry. Age, 7 or 8 years. The 
music-teacher has no left hand, and in keeping time he beats 
with his right hand on the stump of his left arm. Yesterday 
during the singing-lesson I saw that George and Henry had 
pulled their sleeves down over their left hands, and were 
marking time on their arms. 

789. Edith. Age, 7 or 8 years. When I made mud- 
pies I put in small bits of wood for citron, and small stones 
for raisins and currants. I took a stone about the size of an 
egg, and pretended to break it into the cake. Light-colored 
dirt served for spice. 

790. Several Boys. Age, 7 or 8 years. These boys were 
playing "fire." One boy held a piece of hose, which he di- 
rected against a house, at the same time making a sound like 
that of water running from a hose. The boys seemed excited 
and interested. 

791. Several Children. Age, from 6 to 8 years. Three 
boys, each carrying a chair, met a group of three boys and 
two girls, who stopped them, and asked where they were 
going. They replied that they were moving. A girl asked 
to sit in one of the chairs. The chairs were put down, and 
each of the five sat in all the chairs ; then the boys carrying 
the chairs went their way. 



GROUP VII. 143 

792. Six Boys. Age, 6 to 8 years. An undertaker's 
wagon was passing along the street. Six boys ran out from 
the sidewalk, and walked beside it, three on each side. 

793. Girls. Age, 6 to 9 years. I counted twelve little 
girls this morning who held up their skirts either in crossing 
a street or on the sidewalk. 

794. Margaret. Age, 7 or 8 years. Two girls, my 
brother, and I were playing in the dooryard when some 
carriages passed, and we heard some one say it was a wed- 
ding. Some one proposed that we should play " wedding." 
One of the girls had been to a wedding, and she said to have 
a wedding two persons must be married, and' somebody must 
marry them. I said I would be the one to marry them, and 
this girl said she would be bridesmaid. We went to the barn, 
and I stood on a bench, and my brother and the other girl 
stood in front of me. I muttered some gibberish, and said, 
" You are married." My brother said Ave must go to ride. 
We turned the bench upside down, made-believe the legs 
were horses, and put two boards across for seats. I got an 
umbrella and spread it over us. My brother said he would 
drive us to Boston. 

795. Several Boys. Age, 7 or 8 years. These boys 
had marked out a railroad track about two feet in width, by 
drawing a stick along on the ground. Four or five boys placed 
themselves on the track, and ran the length of it, the one in 
front puffing to represent the engine. Sometimes one or more 
boys got in front of the engine, and were knocked down. They 
were then said to be dead, and were removed from the track. 

796. Several Girls. Age, 7 or 8 years. One of our 
favorite plays was " poppy show." We required a dozen or 
more children to play it. We placed pieces of colored paper 
on the ground, each child making a design of her own. A 



144 IMITATION. 

piece of glass was placed on the paper, and the edges of the 
glass covered with dirt. When all were ready some one cried, 
" Pinnie, pinnie, poppy show ; give me a pin, and I'll let you 
know." Sometimes we played this all the forenoon for sev- 
eral successive days. 

797. Unknown - . Age, 7 or 8 years. One boy had a 
handful of straw. He said to another boy, " Come up here 
and play ' horse.' " 

798. Flora. Age, 7 or 8 years. I attended a village 
school, where the pupils were of various ages. I liked to 
listen to the recitations of the older classes, especially the 
first class in grammar, who used to repeat the rules of syntax. 
The teacher noticed my idleness, and told me to look on my 
book. I did so, and made my lips go very busily, repeating, 
"The subject of a finite verb is in the nominative case." I 
learned the list of prepositions in this way, and used to go 
about the house repeating it very rapidly. 

799. Several Bots. Age, 7 or 8 years. After a fire- 
alarm these boys dragged a gallon milk-can, filled with sand, 
through the street, saying, " Puff, puff ! " 

800. Unknown. Age, 7 or 8 years. A boy walked up 
the street in front of me. He shook his fist in the face of 
every image placed at a store for a sign. He was looking in 
the windows, and appeared to be making these movements 
unconsciously. 

801. Harry. Age, 8 years. John. Age, 7 years. One 
of the teachers wears eyeglasses and the other spectacles. 
Yesterday John bent a hairpin into the form of eyeglasses, 
and put it on his nose several times during the morning. 
To-day Harry had two wire rings with plain glass in them 
loosely fastened together. He tried to wear them, but they 
did not stay on very well. 



GROUP VII. 145 

802. Edgar. Age, 7 or 8 years. Edgar pushed a broom- 
handle along the car-track, shouting, " Get out the way ; the 
'lectric car's coming ! " 

803. UisTKNOWisr. Age, 7 or 8 years. This boy was riding 
on his velocipede, to which he had attached a toy express- 
wagon. In the wagon were two or three small bottles, and a 

tomato can. He stopped and said, " You said, Mrs. , a 

keg of old rye." 

804. Willie. Age, 8 years. Willie leads a company of 
six or eight boys about the street singing the hymns of the 
Salvation Army. He carries a baton in his hand. 

805. James. Age, 8 years. James was driving nails into 
a board, and pulling them out again. He said to my sister as 
she chanced to pass by him, " I am pulling out teeth now." 

806. Several Boys. Age, 7 or 8 years. These boys 
were playing ''horse." The "horse" had a rope over his 
shoulders and under his arms. The driver said to a boy 
standing by, " Come, jump in." The boy addressed stepped 
in between the reins in front of the driver. I used to play 
" horse " in this same way, and I remember that it seemed 
almost as if Ave were riding. 

807. Several Children". Age, 7 and 8 years. We played 
" house " in an old shed. Edmund was the " father," and we 
called him John. He went to the shop to work, and when 
dinner was ready we called him by saying, " Ding-dong, ding- 
dong." While he was at work we swept the house and baked. 
A woodpile near by we called our coach. John was the driver. 
He always wanted to start as soon as we got on, but we made 
him wait until we fixed our dresses or pulled up the robe. 

808. Ina. Age, 8 years. When I played store I made 
bags of the leaves of the bag-plant, and filled them with the 
parts of the daisy or clover. 



146 imitatiox. 

809. Edith. Age, S years. Edith plays " lady " by put- 
ting on a long skirt, which she pins up in front so that she 
can walk. She uses me for a horse, keeping me in a stall 
made by chairs when she is not visiting. When ready to 
make calls, she takes me from the stall, and drives me b}" 
means of a long rope around my waist. When she makes a 
call, she ties me to a chair. 

810. John. Age, 8 years. John was sitting on the wood- 
box piling up wood and papers. He had two large paper 
boxes, on which he placed folded pieces of paper. His 
mother asked him what he was doing, and he said, " Playing 
store.*' 

811. Philip. Age. 8 years. While teaching a song to the 
school I kept time with my hands. Every motion that I 
made, Philip, who was sitting in the front seat, made also. 

812. Gkace. Age, 8 years. I used to dress up a large 
stick of wood like a baby. One reason why I did it was that 
there was no baby in the family, and I very much wished there 
was. My brother used to carry this " baby " to a neighbor's, 
where my brother leaned up against the house and cried as 
much like a baby as he could. I tried to quiet the baby, 
and. failing to do so, said, •• Well, we must carry baby in to 
mamma."' We then went home and left the baby. Both 
my brother and I had an idea that the neighbor believed we 
had a real baby. 

813. John. Age. 8 years. John plays he is a butcher. 
He ties about his waist any large white cloth, and pretends to 
cut up meat with a stick of wood. Another stick of wood is 
used to sharpen the knife. Any article of furniture serves 
for meat. 

814. Eva. Age. 8 years. When Eva plays school, the 
discipline is the chief thing. She often sends for the super- 
intendent. 



GROUP VII. 147 

815. Mary and Jenny. Age, 8 years. These girls 
played school in a shed. On the wall were the figures 1, 2, 3, 
4, etc. Each girl had a stick, with which she pointed to these 
figures, and sang, do, re, mi, etc. They then sang a song, still 
pointing to the blackboard, as they called the wall. 

816. Gkace. Age, 8 years. My sisters and I liked to go 
out in the rain, but were not allowed to. We had seen a pic- 
ture of some children sitting under an umbrella, and this gave 
us an idea of doing what follows. My mother happened to 
have a large umbrella. We sat on the piazza, and held this 
umbrella over us, covering our feet with a coat or some other 
article that would protect us, and placing a second \imbrella 
at the side, if we were allowed to take one. One of our num- 
ber poured water on the umbrella. We often wet our feet, 
but we dried them by running in the dusty road. 

817. Clara. Age, about 8 years. My time for having 
funerals for dead birds, etc., lasted about two years, I think. 
I appointed the hour of the funeral, and invited my playmates.. 
Several years afterwards I saw still remaining some of the 
headstones I had placed, and plants that I had set out on the 
graves. 

818. Mary. Age, about 8 years. We used to play 
" house " in the woodshed. When we went to make a visit 
we climbed up on the woodpile, and said we were in the cars. 
An old gridiron was our piano. 

819. Unknown. Age, about 8 years. I saw two girls in 
the street dancing as fairies do on the stage at a theatre. 
They were waltzing around each other, throwing out their 
arms, and gliding on their toes. 

820. Thomas. Age, 8 years. Thomas was weighing sand 
for sugar. He put a piece of tin on a stone. In the middle 
of the tin he placed a small stone. The sand was placed on 
the tin on each side of the stone. 



148 IMITATION. 

821. Norma. Age, 8 years. Philip. Age, 3 years. 
Philip is the mouse, and goes behind the door. Norma is the 
cat, and runs to the door and catches him. Then Norma is 
the mouse, and Philip the cat. They play this for half an 
hour. 

822. Katie. Age, about 8 years. Katie had read the 
rhyme about Bob who liked to be out-of-doors in the rain, 
and who flew through the skies with his hat borne on before 
him. She went out in the rain, and tried to imitate the 
flying. 

823. Several Girls. Age, about 8 years. I saw three 
or four girls in the street who had the hoods of their water- 
proof cloaks over their heads, but the cloaks were not fastened 
together at all. As the girls ran the cloaks spread out behind 
them, and the girls cried, " See my bridal veil ! See my 
bridal veil ! " 

824. Unknown. Age, about 8 years. A boy about eight 
years old was walking with a lame man. The boy walked 
lame. The man said, " What is the matter ?" — ■ " Nothing ! " 
said the boy, and walked naturally. 

825. Unknown. Age, about 8 years. I saw a girl about 
eight years old imitate the preacher by moving her lips, but 
making no sound. 

826. Unknown. Age, from 5 to 9 years. Pour girls 
were looking in at the window of a confectioner where was a 
clock on which a face was painted. The lower jaw rose and 
fell as the pendulum swung. The girls were imitating these 
movements, and made so much noise that several persons 
stopped to see what the attraction was. The girls kept on, 
wholly unconscious that they were observed. 

827. Unknown. Age, about 8 years. I saw a little girl 
jumping rope. On the opposite sidewalk two other girls 



GROUP VII. 149 

" jumped " also, though they had no rope. They appeared en- 
tirely satisfied, jumping sometimes slow and sometimes fast. 

828. Kittie. Age, about 8 years. Ever since Kittie 
began to go to school she has been fond of playing " school." 
She takes a table or chair for her desk, and talks to her pupils 
as if they were seated in front of her. She speaks in a dif- 
ferent voice when she is scholar from what she does as 
teacher. She calls the roll, and gives out lessons. She 
scolds a good deal, and punishes her imaginary scholars very 
often. When her playmates come to visit her they almost 
always play " school," seldom " dolls." 

829. Millie and Ruby. Age, about 8 years. I saw 
Millie and Ruby on the piazza playing they were singers at 
the musical festival which had just been held. Each held a 
card in her hand for music. 

830. Mabel. Age, 8 years. Mabel often plays " school," 
with buttons for pupils. She arranges them in classes, and, 
holding her reading-book in her hand, pronounces a word, and 
asks to have it spelled. She then spells it herself. Some- 
times she gives a hard word to a large button, and spells it 
wrong. Sometimes she passes the word down the line, spell- 
ing it wrong for each button until she comes to a bright-col- 
ored or a small button, when she spells it right. The large 
button is then called stupid, and told to stay after school. 

831. Five Boys. Age, about 8 years. I saw four boys 
marching in a rank, and one marching in front with a stick in 
his hand, which he twirled, and from time to time tossed in 
the air. I heard these orders given : " On abreast ! " (They 
walked side by side.) " Shoulder — arms ! " (They put their 
hands on each others' shoulders.) " Present — arms ! " 
(Hands on each others' heads.) "Drop — arms!" (Hands 
at the side.) "Single file!" "Two by two!" "On 
abreast ! " 



150 IMITATION. 

832. Chandler. Age, 8 years. I heard a great racket, 
and went to the door. Chandler had backed his express- 
wagon np to the door. In it were a dozen or more bottles 
rilled with water of different colors. He said he had medi- 
cine, and asked me to buy. 

833. Alfred. Age, 8 years. Alfred took two leaves 
from the extension-table, and stood in the space to sell tick- 
ets. Two horse-chestnuts was the price. 

834. Betjben. Age, 8 years. Nathan. Age, 2 years. 
Nathan was on the floor on his hands and knees. Eeuben 
had a whip-lash of his own manufacture. He was swing- 
ing it about, and saying, " Come round here ! Haw — gee — 
whoa ! " Nathan was moving about. I learned from what 
they said that they were playing oxen. 

835. Unknown. Age, about 8 years. I saw a boy stand- 
ing beside a house with his ear close to the blinds. He held 
one end of a string, the other end of which was attached to 
a fence four or five yards away. He put the string to his 
mouth, and said, " Send up a barrel of flour." Then he said, 
" Yes ! " with a rising inflection, and his ear close to the blind. 
" Send up a bag of eggs." — " Yes." ■ — - " Send up two boxes of 
yeast." — " Yes." — " All right! Good-by." Arts. "Hullo! 
good-by." He changed his tone when he answered. No 
other person was in sight. 

836. Unknown. Age, about 8 years. One cold afternoon 
I saw a little girl with her coat off. I looked at her to find 
out the cause, and saw that she was talking to it, and treat- 
ing it like a doll. Her two companions had dolls. 

837. Julia. Age, about 8 years. When I had a com- 
panion I used often to play " dentist." The patient sat in an 
easy-chair, with her head thrown back and her mouth open. 
The dentist administered gas from an empty bottle, examined 



GROUP VII. 151 

the teeth carefully, and pulled several with a pair of scissors 
and a buttonhook. Every time a tooth came out we sighed 
deeply or groaned. 

838. Ida. Age, about 8 years. Ida showed me her 
watch. It was a large lozenge which she had colored yel- 
low. The chain was a common twine put through a hole 
in the lozenge. 

839. Unknown. Age, about 8 years. Four boys ran 
hooting down the hill, and stopped before a bonfire. One 
said, " I don't want to be a fireman ; I want to be a horse." 

840. Unknown. Age, about 8 years. A little boy with 
a false mustache said to several boys standing near, " My 
father's got one ; my brother's got one ; all the fellers have 
got one." 

841. Helen. Age, about 8 years. My sister and I 
dressed up spools for dolls. We gave them names, usually 
those of our schoolmates, and ascribed to them the qualities 
of the persons whose names they bore. Every new spool of 
thread was at once claimed and named by one of us. The 
thread on one spool that I claimed did not disappear so fast 
as I wanted it to, and I unwound the whole of it, and threw 
it away. 

842. Unknown. Age, about 8 years. Two boys were 
running along the sidewalk carrying two thick sticks. Every 
few rods they slowed up, and cried, " Ding-dong," several 
times. An electric car had recently begun to run in the 
street, and had just passed. 

843. Juliette. Age, 8 (?) years. We used to gather oak 
and chestnut leaves, break off the stems, and then fasten the 
leaves together by the stems. We called this sewing. We 
made dresses, sashes, and various other things. Sometimes 



152 IMITATION. 

we appointed one girl to do the sewing, but usually each did 
her own. 

844. Juliette. Age, about 8 years. I was interested in 
the workmen that passed our house carrying dinner-pails. I 
made a dinner-pail by taking out the inside of a pumpkin, cut- 
ting two holes in it, and putting in a string for a bail. My 
brother made a similar one for himself ; and we used to put 
food in them, and go into a neighboring field to work. We 
picked flowers or leaves for a little while, and then ate our 
dinner. I remember well the disagreeable taste of the food 
where it had come in contact with the pumpkin. I did not 
want to eat it, but I thought the workmen would eat it, and I 
must. 

845. Unknown. Age, about 8 years. Two girls had 
seized a third girl's arm, and were pulling in a certain direc- 
tion. A boy had seized the girl's other arm, and was trying 
to drag her in the opposite direction. As I passed I heard 
the boy say, "She's got to go to court." 

846. Cora. Age, about 8 years. I remember clearly that 
after I had been present at a communion service for the first 
time, I played " church," and had the communion service. It 
made a deep impression on me. I felt as if I must be very 
good all that week. 

847. Unknown. Age, about 8 years. Three boys were 
scuffing through the dust. One said, "Now I'm going to be 
a horse." 

848. Unknown. Age, about 8 years. This girl was har- 
nessed as for playing " horse." She was standing in front of a 
store, and the reins were put over the pickets of a fence. She 
was very restless, and pranced and kicked as children often do 
when they play "horse." Pretty soon a boy about her own 
age came out of the store, unfastened the reins, and the two 
went off at good speed. 



GROUP VII. 153 

849. Edith. Age, about 8 years. My playmates and I 
set up a post-office. It consisted of a cigar-box placed among 
the lilac-bushes. We put not only letters, but apples and va- 
rious other things, into it. The things were all labelled, and 
we went to it whenever we chose. There was no postmaster 
nor postmistress. It lasted only three or four days. 

850. Anna. Age, 8 (?) years. Anna and two other girls 
were sitting on a settee before a platform at an evening fair. 
Anna fanned herself, and adjusted her skirts. In a pause of 
the conversation between herself and her companions, she 
said, "Now, this is just like real ladies at the theatre." 

851. Grace. Age, about 8 years. I saw a picture of a 
girl lying down, with her arms raised to the level of her 
shoulders. I thought it an exceedingly graceful attitude, and 
afterwards when I was running I raised my arms in the 
same way. 

852. Julia and Mattie. Age, about 8 years. The teacher 
has a spindle on her desk to keep papers and notes on. Each 
of these girls keeps a pin, point uppermost, on her desk, and 
puts on it little bits of waste paper. 

853. Addie. Age, about 8 years. I had seen pictures of 
foxes, some of them colored. I knew a man whose beard and 
hair were reddish and bushy. I called him Mr. Eox, although 
I knew his name. 

854. Emma. Age, about 8 years. I arranged an altar, 
and placed a book on it, as I had seen it at church. I then 
dressed myself as much as possible like a priest. 

855. Unknown. Age, about 8 years. This boy made a 
mound of earth, which he said was a church. He stuck his 
finger in the sides all around, saying, " These are windows." 
He dug away the dirt for a door, made steps and a fence. 
He stuck a stick in the top for a steeple. 



154 IMITATION. 

856. Anna, Age, 8 years. When I was eight years old 

M and I used to play we were at boarding-school. We 

kept this up for two years, and at certain times of the day 
talked to each other about the good times we were having at 
boarding-school. We showed letters we had previously writ- 
ten, saying they were from our friends at home. We were 
very serious about this. 

857. Lizzie. Age, 8 years. Lizzie was teaching Charlie 
and Delia (six and five respectively) how to play " court." 
Charlie and Delia were on the stairs, and Lizzie was at the 
foot. 

Lizzie. Charlie, are you guilty or not guilty ? 

Charlie. Not guilty. 

Lizzie. Delia, are you guilty or not guilty ? 

Delia. Yes'm. 

Lizzie^ Oh, you mustn't say that ; you must say guilty 
or not guilty. 

Delia. What is that guilty ? 

Lizzie. Oh, you must say guilty if you want to. 

Delia. Guilty. 

Lizzie. Come here ! [Very sternly.] Hold out your hand ! 
[Lizzie struck the hand.] Now you've got to go to prison till 
you get good. 

Delia went back to her place on the stairs. 

Lizzie. Now the judge is coming around again. Charlie, 
are you guilty or not guilty ? 

Charlie. Not guilty. 

Lizzie. You're a good boy. You can go home and never 
do so again. [To Delia.] Now, little girl, are you guilty or 
not guilty ? 

Delia. Guilty. 

Lizzie. Well, then, I'll have to punish you some more. 
Hold out your hand. 

Delia. No, I won't. When Charlie minds you, you say 



GROUP VII. 155 

he's good. But when I mind you, you say you must punish 
me. 

Lizzie. But you must get whipped if you're guilty. 

Delia. Well, I ain't guilty, then. 

Lizzie. We won't play that any more, I guess. 

858. Mary. Age, 8 years. Every evening before going 
to bed Mary wraps her doll up carefully. She puts a hood on 
its head, three or four quilts over its body, and sometimes 
warms a toy flat-iron and puts at its feet. I asked her if 
she thought the doll felt cold. She said, "No, of course 
she don't ; " yet I notice she is uneasy if anything prevents 
her from fixing it. 

I remember doing the same thing when I was about her 
age, and I had a strong notion that the doll could feel the 
cold. 

859. Several Boys. Age, from 4 to 8 years. These 
boys were coasting. One said, " My sled is going to be a 
hearse ! " — " Oh ! and mine is a hack ! " — " And mine is a 
hack ! " said the others. " All right ! " said one. " Let's all 
stand up till the hearse goes down. Now all get in your 
hacks, and we'll start." They did this many times. 

860. Minnie. Age, 8 years. Minnie had read one of 
Miss Alcott's books, and very much admired one of the char- 
acters named Phoebe. She named her doll Phosbe, and played 
" school," having the doll as her only pupil. She called the 
roll, which consisted of the names of all the characters in the 
book ; but all were absent except Phoebe. Phoebe was sent 
after the mothers of the absent pupils, and finally took the 
part of the mothers themselves. 

861. Three Girls. Age, about 8 years. These girls had 
shawls pinned around their waists in such a way that they 
fell below their feet, and were sitting on some logs as one sits 



156 IMITATION. 

on a side-saddle. They had pieces of barrel-hoops in their 
hands, and were whipping the logs, and moving as if they 
were on horseback. 

862. Eddie. Age, 8 years. Eddie often plays the story 
of " The Three Little Pigs," in which the wolf comes to the 
pigs' house and asks to be let in, is refused, finally succeeds 
in destroying two pigs, but is himself boiled alive by the 
third pig. Eddie often takes the part of all three pigs. At 
the part where the pig climbs a tree and throws down an 
apple at the wolf, he gets in a chair and throws down a ball. 

863. Unknown. Age, about 8 years. I saw a boy run- 
ning in the road, and raising as much dust as he could. He 
called out " Fire ! See what a big fire I am making all alone." 

864. Jitlia. Age, about 8 years. I rolled up the long 
white edges that a paperer cut from wall-paper as a tape- 
measure is rolled up, and put them away for several days. I 
then unrolled them, and fastened them to my comb for curls. 

865. Juliette. Age, about 8 years. I wanted some 
skates very much, and my mother refused to buy them for 
me, because she was afraid of accidents on the ice. I took 
two pieces of wood about the size of my shoes, and tied them 
to my feet with cords. I made my feet go just as those did 
who had skates, and I enjoyed myself just about as well, I 
think. 

866. Several Children. Age, from 3 to 8 years. I 
asked some children playing on the sidewalk what they were 
playing. A boy said, " We're playing ' policeman.' That girl 
is policeman, and is going to arrest us." — " What is she going 
to arrest you for ? " I asked. " We stealed," said a boy. " I 
stealed a hat." A girl said, " I stepped on the grass, and I 
pulled a cart." Just then the " policeman" came up with a 
stick in her hand, and they all ran away. 



GROUP VII. 157 

867. Edwin. Age, 8 years, 6 months. Edwin lias a 
horseshoe magnet. At supper he moved his fork slowly 
towards the meat on his plate, and when it was near suddenly 
plunged it into the meat. lie said, " This is the way the 
magnet does, isn't it ? " 

868. Lizzie. Age, 8 years, 6 months. I heard Lizzie 
say, " Ladies and gentlemen, remember our next. The next 
thing on our programme will be a solo by Miss C. H. She is 
absent. The next will be a violin solo by Miss E. M." (Her 
own name.) She giggled at the name, and began to scratch 
on the violin and sing at the top of her voice. 

869. George. Age, 8 years, 7 months. George visited 
where he could see Mount Wachusett. Afterwards he piled 
several cup-shaped blossoms of the cobaea one upon another, 
and said, " Here's Wachusett." 

870. Norma. Age, 8 years, 10 months. Philip. Age, 3 
years, 11 months. These children were playing " Christmas 
tree." The presents were all in packages, and hung on a pine 
branch. 

Norma. There's something you put on for Ichabod. 
This can be a cape for summer time. You go tell mamma 
that Ichabod's got four presents." 

Philip shows them to his mother, and comes back to the 
tree. Norma says the presents are all given out, and asks 
if she can have that corner of the room for her playhouse 
always. Her mother says, "Not always," and she says no 
more. Philip takes a piece of paper, holds it up to the door, 
and says, " I am the one who does the writing." He then 
adds, " It is time to sing now." Norma says, " It is time 
to go out." 

Philip. Wait till I write my name. 

Norma. Oh, yes ! I must write my name too. Every- 
body that goes out must write their name on the paper. 



158 IMITATION. 

They go out, but soon come back again, and Philip writes 
his name again on the paper. He says, " Now, when I write' 
my name we must go to singing." He sings, then gets another 
piece of paper, puts it up to the door, and writes, wetting his 
pencil in his mouth. While he writes, he says, " B-a-r-g, 
Philip Eaton. Now we will sing. We will sing if we don ; t 
have any books. We want only but a paper. We don't need 
books. All that can't have any paper I must write their 
names." 

Norma. You must be the ticket-man, and give tickets. I 
am Mrs. Eaton. I will take three tickets. 

Pldlip. Is that all ? Now we must have a secret. Keep 
still ; don't sing nor talk, for I have got to write. Spell he, 
Norma. Spell cat. 

Norma spells them. 



GROUP VIIL 159 



GROUP VIIL 

Ages between 9 and 10. 



871. Three Girls. Age, 6 to 9 years. Three girls were 
sitting on a doorstep, their faces hidden in their hands. 
Another girl a little older was standing in front of them, 
watching them silently. Presently she said, speaking to each 
in turn, " Your time's up ! Your time's up ! Your time's 
up ! You can go now ! " The three walked away arm in arm, 
while another girl was put on the doorstep to sit with her 
face hidden, under the watch of the older girl. In a few min- 
utes the older girl ran after the three who had walked away, 
and seized them quite roughly. One of the three said angrily, 
" No, we ain't drunk ! Me and Carrie didn't take any beer at 
all." The. older girl said in a behind-the-scenes tone, " Oh, 
yes ; you must ! " I . walked on, but turned to look back, 
when I saw the three on the doorstep again. 

872. Five Boys. Age, G to 9 years. Five boys, with 
their jackets inside out and carrying sticks, were marching, 
and singing, " The band got up in the morning." 

873. Several Girls. Age, 6 to 9 years. These girls 
marked out on the sidewalk the boundaries of the rooms of a 
house, — a sitting-room, a bedroom, a children's playroom, and 
a front hall. As I approached, they said I must enter by the 
hall. One girl was the mother, one a nurse, and two were 
" children." They told me the children were asleep, though 
they were sitting on the doorsteps, and took part in the con- 
versation. This was yesterday afternoon. This morning I 



1G0 IMITATION. 

found them playing in the same place, and, thinking to please 
them, attempted to pass through the hall. They said, " You 
mustn't go through the bedroom ; you'll wake us up." They 
had changed the hall to another place. 

874. Four Children. Age, 7 to 9 years. These children 
were playing " house " in a woodshed. Lucille was the 
mother. The two boys were firemen. Lucille said, "Now 
you must go to work." The boys went to a woodpile, and 
pretended to play on it with a small piece of hose, making a 
loud noise to represent the sound of the water. One said, " Get 
up, Mister, and take off the roof." The other climbed up 
and threw doAvn some wood. " Is it all out ? " — " Yes ; all 
out ! " — " All right ; come to the shop until the whistle blows 
again." All of a sudden the girls came running, and scream- 
ing, " Fire ! fire ! " Out ran the boys, dragging their hose. 
Shortly one boy said to Lucille, " The fire must be out now, 
and you must get our dinner." 

875. Several Boys. Age, 7 to 9 years. Half a dozen 
boys were running down the street crying, " Fire ! " One 
of the largest boys was sitting in an express-wagon, which 
two others were drawing. Suddenly they stopped at the cor- 
ner of a house ; one took a piece of rubber hose from the 
wagon, and held it to the corner of the house. After a 
few seconds some one said, " Oh, the fire's broken out at 
this corner ; put on another stream of water ! " Then they 
all ran to that corner. 

876. Several Children. Age, 7 to 9 (?) years. Mrs. 
M saw on the steps of the Swedish church several chil- 
dren sitting with clasped hands, closed eyes, and bowed heads. 
One was standing in front, repeating the Lord's Prayer, sen- 
tence by sentence, and the children sitting repeated it after her. 

877. Four Boys. Age, 8 or 9 years. I saw four boys 
playing on the border of a pond. One was acting as horse, 



GROUP VIII. 161 

and was drawing a boat filled with stones, while a second 
acted as driver. At a certain point they unloaded the stones, 
and laid the foundation of a " house." 

878. Three Girls. Age, 5, 7, and 9 years. We played 
" fort " by building up a wall of chairs and tables, and cov- 
ering it with cloths. Two of us were in the fort, and one 
outside blindfolded. The one outside had to pull down the 
fort, and find those within. Sometimes we built a small 
fort, where we concealed ourselves while the attack on the 
large one was going on, and waited to enjoy the discomfiture 
of the blindfolded one at finding no one when she had fin- 
ished her work. 

879. Two Boys. Age, 6 and 9 years. Two boys were 
playing with a chain attached to a hitching-post. By tak- 
ing hold of the free end of the chain, and throwing it with 
force, it would wind itself around the post. They called it 
the live snake. The charm consisted in seeing the chain 
wind itself up. 

880. John. Age, 7 years. Henry. Age, 9 years. John 
and Henry were playing " bear." John was the bear, and 
Henry the master. A rope was tied to John's arm, by which 
Henry was leading him, singing, " Der um, der um, der um," 
and making gestures which the bear seemed to understand. 

881. Three Boys. Age, 7, 6. and 9 years. At intervals 
for two or three years I have noticed that my brothers' hair 
is longer in some places than in others. On inquiry I have 
learned that they cut their own hair. Sometimes the oldest 
cuts that of the two younger boys, and sometimes each cuts 
his own. They seemed ashamed when asked about it, but 
soon did it again. 

882. Six Girls. Age, 8 or 9 years. These girls were 
playing " house." From the conversation, I think they were 



162 IMITATION. 

preparing for a party. The two older ones were " mothers," 
and were dressing the " children's " hair with apple-blossoms, 
and tying up their aprons with bright-colored ribbons. 

883. Unknown. Age, 8 or 9 years. I saw a girl scuffing 
up and down the sidewalk, imitating the sounds of a steam- 
engine, and moving her arms around like wheels or cranks 
that turn a machine. 

884. Several Children. Age, 8 or 9 years. When I 
was eight or nine years old a favorite amusement of the chil- 
dren of the neighborhood was having shows. The show was 
generally held in a woodshed, and the price of admission was 
from ten to twenty pins. It consisted of songs, dialogues, 
tableaux, etc. It was a great attraction if some of the boys 
were allowed to black their faces. A tableau that was always 
given was " The Sleeping Beauty." After the show a treat of 
some kind was expected. I furnished lemonade at my show. 

885. Annie. Age, 8 or 9 years. I was very fond of 
being the storekeeper, and having the little girls that played 
" house " buy their things of me. For the counter I had a 
board three or four feet long resting on two rocks. An old 
tin cover or pan placed on a stone we called " a weight," and 
weighed the groceries on it. Fine sand was sugar, coarse sand 
was coffee, small stones were eggs, and large stones were 
apples or potatoes. Paper cut in pieces and marked ten, 
twenty cents, etc., was the money. 

886. Julia. Age, 8 or 9 years. Julia placed a singing- 
book in a chair, open, and resting against the back of the 
chair. She sat on a cricket in front of the chair, and pre- 
tended to be playing the piano. She imitated the sound of 
an instrument with her voice. 

887. Anna. Age, 8 or 9 years. I liked very much to 
keep store. On rainy days I often collected the books, 



GROUP viii. 163 

marked each with a price, and placed them on the table. 
The price was never less than a dollar, and sometimes as high 
as seven dollars. I made paper money, and gave it to my 
brother and sister, that they might buy of me. 

883. Agnes. Age, 8 or 9 years. Pour other girls and I 
held a picnic on several successive Saturday afternoons dur- 
ing the warm weather. If the weather was fine, we met in 
a pine grove ; if rainy, in a woodshed. Each one brought a 
slice of bread and a cracker or two, sometimes a tomato, and 
sometimes a handful of raisins. All the children of the neigh- 
borhood came to these picnics if they liked. We broke the 
bread into small pieces, and sliced the tomatoes, selling a piece 
for one or more pins. What we did not sell we ate ourselves. 
Many children bought of us, though all could have had plenty 
of better things at home. 

889. Sadie. Age, 8 or 9 years. My cousin taught me 
to play an air on a parlor organ. I had no organ ; but I ar- 
ranged dominoes on the sewing-machine, rested a music-book 
against the arm, worked the treadle with my feet, and pre- 
tended I was playing tunes. 

890. Unknown. Age, 8 or 9 years. I heard a boy cry, 
" Halloa ! " to another boy. The other said, " Why don't you 
salute your superior officer ? " 

891. Harry. Age, 8 years. Arthur. Age, 9 years. 
These boys were playing '• horse." Harry, the horse, was 
drawing behind him a small wheelbarrow. 

892. Ernest. Age, 8 years. Stephen. Age, 9 years. 
Ernest and Stephen brought their caps to me soaked with 
water, and told me that they found them wet hanging in the 
closet. There was no possible way for the caps to be wet 
while in the closet ; and, moreover, I overheard them say, 
"Don't tell." I promised not to tell if they would tell me; 



164 IMITATION. 

and they confessed that they had been sailing them for boats 
in the brook, with stones for a cargo. 

893. Two Girls. Age, 8 and 9 (?) years. I overtook two 
girls whose heads were covered with shawls. One of them 
had covered her head and face completely, but had put on the 
shawl in such a way that it fell to the ground behind her. 
She walked with a pompous air. I asked her what she was 
playing, but did not understand her reply, except that she 
had on a veil. The other girl said, " We won't get sunstruck, 
but you will." 

894. Three Girls. Age, 8 or 9 years. These girls were 
trying to swing themselves over a fence as boys do. One 
had great success. The others were more timid, though they 
practised it for ten or fifteen minutes. One of them appeared 
to hurt herself, and then all went away. 

895. Charlie. Age, about 9 years. I heard Charlie 
studying his spelling-lesson. He spelled the words twice, 
aloud, looking on his book. He then spelled the word, and 
looked on the book to see if it was right. If it was not right 
he would say in a very different tone, "How did you spell 
that?" 

896. Three Boys. Age, about 9 years. There was a fire 
in our town yesterday. This morning I saw three boys appar- 
ently playing " fire." One stood in a toy wagon, and one stood 
on the sidewalk waving one end of a rope which was attached 
to the wagon, and the third was saying, "This is the house." 

897. Carrie. Age, about 9 years. My sister and I had 
played croquet at a neighbor's, but we had no croquet, set of 
our own. We found some heavy wire in the attic, which we 
bent into the form of wickets. We also found in the attic 
some balls that had been sawed off a bedstead. For a mallet 
we could find nothing but a fence picket. The balls were too 



group Yin. 105 

large, and the picket hurt our hands; but we did not mind it 
much, the pleasure of playing was so great. 

898. Four Sisters. Age, 3 to 9 years. For three suc- 
cessive summer vacations when my oldest sister was eight 
and nine years old she kept school in the attic, and taught us 
all the branches she had been taught. The school furniture 
consisted of broken chairs and some boards. The teacher 
pinned on the walls bright pictures and perforated card- 
designs of our own making. Some of our friends attended a 
convent school, where on the last day of the school-} T ear prizes 
were distributed, with singing, reading, etc. This was called 
Distribution Day, and was imitated by us. Every one received 
a gift of the teacher's making, a paper doll, — a paper star, 
etc. 

899. Several Boys. Age, 4 to 9 years. I saw boys 
playing " school " yesterday. I do not remember ever to have 
seen boys play "school" before. The teacher, who was older 
than the others, spent most of the time whipping his pupils 
with a strap cut into three lashes. He used it with vigor. 

900. Three Children. Age, 5, 7, and 9 years. We had 
learned a verse which ran like this : - — 

" ' Come to bed,' said Sleepy-head ; 
' Wait a while,' said Slow ; 
' Put on the pot,' said Greedy-gut, 
' We'll sup before we go.' " 

We played that Joe was " Greedy-gut," I was " Slow," and 
Emma was " Sleepy-head," because she got sleepy in the even- 
ing, and we all had to go to bed when she did. 

901. Three Girls. Age, 4, 5, and 9 years. These girls 
were taking their dolls out in paper boxes, the covers of which 
were placed upright at one end of the box. A string was 
fastened to the other end, by which they drew the boxes on 
the sidewalk. 



166 IMITATION. 

902. Clarence. Age, 9 years. Jim. Age, 5 years. 
Clarence had Jim on his shoulders as a ragman carries a bag 
of rags. He was crying, "Rags, old rags, bottles, bottles, 
rubbers ! " 

903. Three Girls. Age, 5, 7, and 9 years. The kitten 
belonging to these children had died. The kitten's name was 
" Snowflake," the family name, " Rogers." The children dug 
a grave and made a tombstone, on which they cut the ini- 
tials S. R. They dressed themselves in their mother's black 
dresses and veils, and one " preached," dwelling much on the 
beauty of the kitten and their love for it. They then carried 
the coffin (a salt-box) to the grave, and, as they stood around 
it, sang, " Sister, thou wast mild and lovely." They were seri- 
ous throughout the ceremony. 

904. Three Girls. Age, 5, 6, and 9 years. My sisters 
arranged their blocks like settees, and placed spools on them 
to represent a congregation. One spool was put in a sort of 
pulpit for a minister. The oldest preached. I heard her 
say, " You must all come to church, men and women, and I 
want the children to come, the little children." They sang, 
and the youngest preached, saying almost the same that her 
sister had said. They sang again, the same piece as before. 

905. Several Children. Age, 6 to 9 years. Once we 
succeeded in making a snow-house large enough for four of us 
to sit in. We took mats from the house, and had a soap-box 
in the centre for a table. In the evening we closed up the 
entrance with a box, and placed a candle on the table. We 
enjoyed sitting here eating popcorn and telling stories. 

906. Ray. Age, 6 years. Leslie. Age, 9 years. Since 
the kittens have been large enough to play, the boys have 
been much occupied with them. They made a house for 
them by cutting a hole in one side of a box, and making an 



GROUP VIII. ■ 167 

enclosure about the box, which they called the yard. For sev- 
eral days after this had been made I observed that they were 
building something, and yesterday 1 was invited out to see 
what they had done. I found quite a large enclosure, in 
which were three boxes placed end to end, and connected by 
openings in the adjacent sides. There was an opening from 
one box into the enclosure. The floors of the boxes were 
covered with hay, and a small heap of hay was in one corner 
of the yard. 

907. Mamie. Age, 9 years. George. Age, 6 years. 
Mamie and George were playing " house." Mamie found an 
old pair of George's shoes, and put them on. George said, 
" Now, Mamie, you are a boy on your feet ! " Mamie said, 
"Let me take your cap and overcoat." — " Yes," said George, 
" and then you are much more boy." 

908. Sara. Age, about 9 years. Our house had never 
been painted. In the spring it was fun to paint it with mud. 
My brush was a hen's feather. At the right season the earth 
with which the house was banked up was wet enough to 
spread beautifully. I played this for days at a time, more 
than one spring. 

909. Three Girls. Age, 9, 7, and 9 years. Mary was 
the teacher, and told the other girls not to come in until she 
had everything ready. She placed a bench for the scholars, 
and a butter-tub, which she covered with a cloth, for her own 
seat. When these arrangements were made she called them 
in, gave them their seats, and told them to sit in order. Janet 
began to laugh and whisper. Mary took her by the arm, and 
placed her with her face to the wall. Janet turned and made 
a face. Mary said, " You can stay half an hour after school, 
and I shall write your name on the board." 

910. Two Boys. Age, 7 and 9 years. I saw two boys 
marching in the middle of the street, one on stilts, the other 



108 imitation: 

imitating a drum with wooden " bones." Both were grave 
and silent. 

911. Johnnie. Age, 9 years. Robbie. Age, 8 years. I 
heard Johnnie and Robbie running around the dining-room, 
and talking about killing Indians. One said he had killed 
a lot of Indians, and the other said he had got to find some 
more Indians to kill. They soon came into the room where I 
sat, and presently something fell on my dress. I found it to 
be a hen's feather, with a needle stuck in the end of it. They 
said it was an arrow. When it stuck upright in anything 
they said they had killed the Indian, when it inclined they 
had only wounded him. 

912. Estelle. Age, 9 years. Estelle, with the help of 
her playmate Essie, started a millinery store. They made 
several doll's hats. The store contained a showcase made of 
a shoe-box, and a box for the stock of ribbons, etc. They 
drew on a piece of brown paper eight hats, all differing from 
one another ; printed on it : " Great sale of hats ! To-day 
only ! " and pinned it on the box for a sign. 

913. Nora. Age, 9 years. A board had been laid across 
a mud puddle on the sidewalk. Nora led two smaller chil- 
dren across, saying, " This is Boston Harbor." 

914. Eour Girls. Age, about 9 years. One of the favor- 
ite games of these girls was " Pilgrim's Progress." They 
started on the first floor of the house with canes, and their 
mothers' piece-bags on their backs for burdens. After going 
through all the rooms on this floor they went up-stairs, and 
when they reached the top dropped their burdens to the foot. 
They went through the rooms on this floor, always keeping in 
line in the order of their ages, and then went to the attic, 
which was the end of their journey. 

915. Name Unknown. Age, about 9 years. This boy 
was carding the grass on a bank with a card used for horses. 



GROUP VIII. 169 

Another boy passing asked him what he was doing. "Carding 
my horse," he replied. 

916. Rose. Age, about 9 years. I used to play I was a 
number of persons or animals in succession. With other girls 
I often began by playing " house." We were callers and 
guests at the same time ; we then went to ride, being our 
own horses. We went to a party where we were hostess 
and guests. Sometimes we were boys, and did errands for 
ourselves. In quick succession we were queens, kings, prin- 
cesses, and fairies. A great variety of things happened to us. 

917. Amy. Age, about 9 years. My brother and I each 
had a family of glass marbles. The largest ones were the 
parents, and the smaller ones the children. As they varied in 
color we could distinguish them by individual names. Their 
homes were on a melodeon, each at one end of the keyboard. 
When they visited each other they went by the road ; that is, 
the white keys. The space at each end of the keyboard was 
the playground. 

918. Unknown. Age, about 9 years. As I came down 
street I saw an auction sale in a store. A little apart from 
the crowd a boy was imitating the auctioneer. He had his 
cap raised on the end of a stick, and was crying in the loud 
tones of an auctioneer, " How much will you give me for 
this ! " etc. 

919. Fred. Age, 9 years. Fred had been taking a bath, 
and had not put on his stockings and shoes, but had put his 
black garters around his ankles, and was running about the 
house. When asked what he was doing, he said, "I'm a 
horse; I'm sprained in both legs." 

920. Jennie. Age, 9 years. Jennie is very fond of Mrs. 
Vaughn, and calls herself Ethel Vaughn, and insists on her 
playmates calling her that. 



170 IMITATION. 

921. Mart. Age, about 9 years. We had a book con- 
taining colored pictures of Indian chiefs, and from this we 
drew the characters of a favorite game for rainy days. My 
oldest brother, about twelve, was the chief, my next oldest 
an old warrior, and a younger one an Indian without a title. 
The chief had a red cotton handkerchief for a head-dress, and 
a plaid shawl for a blanket. The warrior wore my father's 
overcoat of hairy cloth. An umbrella handle was a gun, and 
a broom with a piece of cloth tied around it was a tomahawk. 
A skein of yarn, when we could get it, was a scalp. My 
youngest brother and I were the people of a village. When 
we heard the Indians yell we ran to the fort, a corner of the 
room barricaded by two old chairs and a broken clotheshorse. 
I put a stick, my gun, between the bars of the clotheshorse, 
and shot the chief. The other Indians entered the fort, 
the chief came to life, and we were taken captives. I was 
dragged out by my hair. I had been told to hold back, and 
resist as much as possible ; but my brother pulled my hair 
so hard I did not dare to after a first attempt. We were 
marched around the room three times, and then taken to the 
Indians' hut to have our fate decided. Once I was allowed to 
become a squaw, and once I was allowed to escape. The play 
usually ended with a war dance so noisy that my mother 
broke it up. 

922. Josie. Age, about 9 years. I often played " school," 
with buttons for pupils, arranging them according to size, as 
was done in seating the children at school, and choosing the 
pretty ones for my favorites. A checker with a button on 
it was the teacher. I must have done the talking for both 
teacher and scholars, for I remember imitating the affected 
manner of speech of a girl in the school I attended, and the 
manners of a rude boy. 

923. Two Girls. Age, about 9 years. One of these girls 
had a short piece of rope in one hand, and a small stick in the 



GROUP VIII. 171 

other. She swung these as she would a jump-rope, and both 
girls jumped. 

924. Four Children". Age, about 9 years. Two boys 
were crawling about on their hands and knees, barking like 
clogs. Two girls, each with a stick, were beating the dogs 
back when they came too near. 

925. Cora. Age, about 9 years. At my grandfather's, 
where I visited in the summer, there was a long ladder near 
the barn, one end of Avhich rested on a fence, the other on the 
ground. My playmate and I used to dress up in long dresses, 
and sit on this ladder, playing we were on a steamer going 
to Europe. Sometimes we were an elderly couple, and were 
very seasick. 

926. Elizabeth. Age, about 9 years. When I was about 
nine, I used to take a song-book into a room by myself, and, 
making a bow, sing all the tunes I knew. I imagined the 
room to be full of people. 

927. Willie. Age, about 9 years. Just after school be- 
gan to-day Willie raised his hand. When I asked him what 
he wanted he said, " When Johnnie and me were coming to 
school this morning we saw two tin cans, and we called one 
Cleveland and the other Sherman. I smashed the one that 
was Cleveland all to pieces, and didn't hurt the other a 
bit." 

928. Several Girls. Age, about 9 years. At recess we 
used often to play "hotel." We scraped dirt into ridges 
around a square place, and divided it by other ridges into 
rooms. A part of us were boarders, and the others maids. 
The boarders had particular rooms, and all they could do was 
to go out to walk. The maids swept, — that is, scraped more 
dirt together onto the ridges ; and this was preferred to 
taking the part of boarders, because it was more interesting 
than goim? to walk. 



172 IMITATION. 

929. Seven Boys. Age, about 9 years. Seven boys were 
playing on a pile of sand. One said, as he pulled a stick out 
of one side of a mound, " I've got a fox ! I've got a fox ! " 

930. Three Children. Age, — years. Three children 
were playing " school " on the doorsteps. The teacher had 
one of the boys by the collar, and was putting on the 
stick, saying, " Now will you be a good boy ? " 

931. Eddie. Age, 9 years. Eddie made a house by dig- 
ging out a snowdrift, and sticking in a lath for a chimney. 

932. Margaret. Age, 9 years. I made a " man " to play 
with when my older sister began to be fond of reading, and 
left me to play by myself. A piece of stovepipe a little more 
than a foot long formed the body. I made eyes of black and 
white paper, a mouth of red paper, and a nose of paper, all 
put on with paste. I pushed a broom through the pipe, the 
handle of which made a leg, and the brush part the shoulders. 
I dressed it in trousers, a coat, a necktie, and a hat. I could 
carry it from room to room, and I think I enjoyed it more 
than most other playthings. 

933. Pour Girls. Age, about 9 years. Every morning 
for a week I have seen four girls play on the roof of a house 
for about an hour. The} r spread a red table-cover on the roof, 
and place broken dishes and oyster-shells on it. They then 
walk about the roof with a proud air for a short time, gather 
up the dishes, and put them in a basket, shake the table-cover, 
spread it again, and repeat the whole thing. 

934. Emma. Age, 9 years. Emma told me that she had 
a nice doll at home who was sometimes sick. I asked her 
what she did. " Oh, I send for the doctor," she said. " And 
what does he give her ? " I asked. " Oh, I pick up a lot of 
little stones, and give them to her for pills ; I make-believe 
they are pills." 



GROUP VIII. 173 

935. Nancy. Age, 9 years. My teacher had a way of 
smiling out of the corner of her mouth, which I admired, and 
practised before the looking-glass until I could do it. I con- 
tinued it for several months. 

936. Louis. Age, 9 years. Louis picks up a magazine, 
and sings the letters of words to the notes of the scale. 
When he has sung eight letters he goes over them backwards, 
just as we do the scale. He does not select words of just 
eight letters. 

937. Louise. Age, 9 years. Hoopskirts were in fashion 
when I was nine years old. Several of my mates and I 
wanted to wear them, but were not permitted. We devised 
the plan of putting into the hems of our dresses the long 
stems of the goldenrod, stripped of the leaves and flowers. 
One day we wore them to school. 

938. Estelle. Age, 9 years. Estelle takes a stick, and, 
pointing to the wall, says to her dolls, " As I point to the 
notes, you must sing them. Now all begin at once, and don't 
lag behind, for that will spoil the others." She then sings 
the notes herself. Sometimes she shakes one of the dolls, and 
says, " Now, you will mind the place next time." Last even- 
ing, while playing this, she seized a doll, and placed it in the 
corner face to the wall, and, after a few minutes, said, 
" You may go into the dressing-room for making faces when 
my back is turned, but I saw you. This noon you will go to 
the office of Mr. T to get a whipping." 

939. Alice. Age, 9 years. In a building that had been 
used as a carriage repair-shop, there were two large hooks 
which could be raised and lowered by means of pulleys. I 
used to place a pole across these hooks, and have a trapeze 
performance, in imitation of pictures I had seen. 

940. Gertie. Age, 9 years. Last evening I saw Gertie 
making out examples. These are two of those she made : — 



174 IMITATION. 

"If a man had a tree with 60 apples on it, how much 
would there be on a tree with 50 apples ? Ans. $10." 

" A man had a farm with 50 ear. If he sold them at $5 
a ear, how much ? Ans. $255." 

941. Sarah and Helen. Age, 9 years. Helen and I 
used to go to the post-office every night, and amused our- 
selves by playing we were wild horses. We took opposite 
sides of the road, and ran and pranced. If we came in con- 
tact with each other, we neighed and whinnied, but did not 
speak._ We kept this up for about a year, but never played 
it except on the way to the post-office. 

942. Estelle. Age, 9 years. Estelle used so much water 
in washing her doll's head that the hair came off. I told her 
she should not have used so much water. She replied, " It 
wasn't the water. Jennie's head ached so that her hair is 
coming out." 

About ten minutes after, I heard her telling her mates 
that Jennie was just like the woman her teacher told them 
about, whose hair turned gray in a single night. 

943. Stella. Age, 9 years. Stella had washed out her 
doll's clothes in the morning, and was ironing them in the 
afternoon. Ada was looking on. When Stella had ironed a 
dress, Ada said, "I'll put her dress on now, and she'll be 
clean." — "No," said Stella, "you mustn't put it on till it's 
aired." She put the dress on the oven door for a few min- 
utes, and then handed it to Ada, saying, " It is very easy for 
children to take cold this week, so don't put wet clothes 
on them." 

944. Estelle. Age, 9 years. Estelle was playing "house." 
One of her dolls, Jennie, was sick. Estelle said, "Jennie 
don't look very well to-day ; I was all night putting hot cloths 
on her head, it hurt so." She rocked the doll in her cradle, 
saying, " Go to sleep, now, and you'll be better when you get 



GROUP VIII. 175 

up. No, you can't get up now ! " In about two minutes 
she took the doll up, and said, " I'll give your face and hands 
a good washing, and perhaps when you are clean you'll feel 
better." 

945. Gertie. Age, 9 years. Gertie was cutting a pic- 
ture of a pair of scissors from a newspaper. She said, " I am 
going to send them to New York, to get some truly ones ; 
'cause when you send them to New York they send you back 
the kind to use." 

946. Winnie. Age, 9 years. I saw Winnie drawing her 
doll's carriage, in which was a large cat dressed in a child's 
dress. A blanket was spread over it, so that only the head 
showed. 

947. Abby. Age, 9 years. I had no sister, but I imagined 
I had, and gave her my first name, dropping it entirely from 
my own name. I played that this sister was older than I, 
and when I spoke in her character I imitated my mother's 
voice. When I spoke for myself in the play I softened my 
voice. I kept this up for five or six years. 

948. Edith. Age, 9 (?) years. My sister and I used to 
play " barber." We took turns sitting in our high-chair to be 
shaved or shampooed. We used toy knives for razors. 

949. Bertha. Age, 9 years. Bertha cuts her mashed 
potato in the form of a circle, and divides it into six pieces, 
like a pie. She calls it a pie. She makes the knife, fork, 
and spoon go through the form of eating it. 

950. Lucy. Age, 9 years, 2 months. George. Age, 6 
years, 9 months. I heard George making a growling sound, 
and saw Lucy curled up on the sofa, looking frightened. 
George said, " You mustn't do that ; make-believe you are 
asleep." He then tried to arrange her, and they had a dispute 



176 IMITATION. 

as to whether her legs should be crossed or not. I was sit- 
ting with my back towards them, but presently heard the 
growling again, and George said, " Now I'm going to get in ! " 

— " Oh, no ! " said Lucy, " you can't ; the doors are fastened." 

— "Oh, yes!" said George; "I forgot. Then you've got to 
come out." — " All right ! " said Lucy ; then, changing her 
voice as if speaking to herself, " I guess I'll go down street." 
Meanwhile, George had crawled under the sofa ; and as Lucy 
left it he sprang out after her, making a hideous noise. She 
sprang back on the sofa, and said, " You can't get me now." 

— " Yes, I can," said George. 

" No, sir ; everything is locked up," said Lucy. After 
growling a while, George caught up a toy pistol and gave it to 
her, with some marbles, saying, " Now you must shoot me." 
Lucy refused to use the marbles, but substituted some horse- 
chestnuts. George came very near to her, growling, but she 
made no move. " Now, now ! " he cried, running off. She 
threw a chestnut, but did not hit him, and called him back, 
telling him not to run so fast. When she had failed five or 
six times to hit him she lost her patience, and told him to 
stand up. Their play was here interrupted, but was resumed 
later, and the fiction still maintained that the bear could not 
get in if the door was locked. 

951. Koy. Age, 9 years, 2 months. Eoy wished to be a 
drum-major, but had only a plain stick of wood. He tried to 
fasten a pincushion on it for a head, but did not succeed. 
He then dipped the end in tar. This made it satisfactory, 
and he played contentedly with it. 

952. Louise. Age, 9 years, 3 months. Louise called this 
playing "store." She had a large empty spool, a ruler, an 
apple, and a box. She cut the apple into small pieces, and 
put them in the box. She placed the ruler on the spool, and 
put one of the larger pieces of apple on one end and several 



GROUP VIII. 177 

smaller pieces on the other end. When they balanced she 
whispered to herself, "One pound," and ate the small pieces. 
It took her half an hour to eat in this way three-quarters of 
her apple. 

953. Willie. Age, 9 years, 3 months. A sewer has 
been constructed near where Willie lives ; and though I did 
not think Willie took much notice of it, he has constructed a 
sewer for his own amusement, eight feet or more in length. 
It is built of brick, — four bricks in a section, — held together 
by mud, and covered with earth. It is not completed ; and at 
the unfinished end boards are driven into the ground, some of 
which are held in place by wooden spikes. Two sticks are 
placed across the boards, on each of which is a spool which. 
serves as a pulley. A cord supporting a bucket passes over 
each pulley. There are also some other mechanical contri- 
vances. A small cart and a bucket stand near, as if they had 
been used. Willie amuses himself by bringing water from 
the barn, and pouring it through the sewer. 

954. Bennie. Age, 9 years, 3 months. Bennie brought 
his black cat into the sitting-room, and said it was a bear. 
He put it in a closet, and said, "It is in its den." He shot at 
it with his toy gun, using corn for shot. He tied a string 
around its neck, and tried to make it perform. When it ran 
into another room he said it was running off to the woods. 
It jumped upon the lounge where I was sitting; and he 
exclaimed, " It is going for the people ! " 

955. Willie. Age, 9 years, 3 months. We had been 
telling jokes. After a little while Willie asked, " Where is 
that bow you used to have ? " — " What bow ? " some one 
asked. "Jumbo," he replied. He said a boy told him this ; 
but he went on to make other similar jokes. This is one : 
"Where is that picture you used to have?" — "What pic- 
ture ? " — " Picture-frame." 



178 IMITATION. 

956. Willie. Age, 9 years, 3 months. Jennie. Age, 6 
years, 2 months. I saw Jennie and Willie playing " house." 
Jennie had a doll and an empty cigar-box. Willie had a 
doll's head with a pipestem stuck in it for a body. Jennie 
was Mrs. Winter (the name of her teacher) ; Willie was 
simply Mrs. They called on each other very often. Jennie 
had a doll's leg with a piece of red worsted tied around it 
hung up for a door-bell. Willie had a pair of scissors hung 
up for the same purpose. They made a great show of ringing 
the bells when they called. Jennie invited me to call on her. 
I went without pulling the bell. Willie said, " You forgot 
something," looking at the bell. I took no notice, but called 
again, and this time pulled it. They both looked pleased. 

957. Helen. Age, 9 years, 4 months. Helen spent the 
greater part of one forenoon playing " telephone." She wrote 
notes, and put them one at a time behind the organ. Then 
she pushed them out on the other side with a long stick. 
Her mother said, " People don't send notes by telephone." 
She said, "I do through my telephone." 

958. Harry. Age, 9 years, 6 months. I read Harry the 
story of the battle of Bunker Hill, and accounts of some other 
battles. He afterwards asked for the book, and occupied 
himself for some time with it. Later I saw him marching 
back and forth alone on the top of a fence with a flag over his 
shoulder. 

959. Ruth. Age, 9 years, 6 months. The fire-alarm 
sounded. Ruth ran out of the room, and quickly came back 
with a Bible, which she opened. " Forty-eight, four o'clock, 
Main Street," she said, and carried the Bible back. 

960. Alice. Age, 9 years, 8 months. Alice is fond of 
dressing up when she goes to bed. She was found the other 
night with a dress waist on over her nightgown, and a neck- 



GROUP VIII. 179 

tie on. She was very indignant when her mother made her 
take them off. 

961. Sylvia. Age, 9 years, 8 months. Sylvia asked me 
to guess how many pupils there were in the sixth grade. 
I said, " Four." 

Sylvia. Add seven. 
/. That makes eleven. 
Sylvia. Then subtract one. 
/. That leaves ten. 
Sylvia. Divide by two. 
/. Five. 

Sylvia. Add three. 
I. Eight. 

Sylvia. Yes, that's the number. 

She then made me guess by similar means the numbers in 
the different classes. 

962. Willie. Age, 9 years, 11 months. I read the story 
of the kangaroo called " How's-dat-for-hi," which escaped 
from a lion by jumping across a river and back again 
until the lion was tired out. A few days afterwards Willie 
was playing with his kitten. He had a buffalo's tail tied to a 
string. He said, " You are the lion, kitty ; and this is ' How's- 
dat-for-hi.' " He then jerked the tail across the room, and 
the kitten ran after it. This was repeated several times. 

963. Philip. Age, 9 years, 11 months. Philip was cut- 
ting with some dull scissors. He worked his mouth as he did 
the scissors. 



180 IMITATION. 



GROUP IX. 

Ages between 10 and 11. 



964. Seven Children. Age, 5 to 10 years. Six girls 
and one boy were playing in an old cemetery out of sight of 
every one. I was led to the place by the sound of their voices 
singing, "Pull for the Shore." All the girls had their hats 
off, and their heads completely covered with chickweed, closely 
matted together. Four of the girls had tall ferns stuck into 
the chickweed, and hanging down about their heads. These 
four were standing in front of the others, at a little distance. 
They were the chief singers, though one of the other girls 
sang sometimes. I was told to take my place in the audience, 
and get a fan ; that is, a fern. " Audiences always have fans," 
one of the girls said. They sang, " I'm a Little Pilgrim." 
I whispered to a girl near me, and was told that I must not 
do that ; it was not polite for audiences to whisper. 

965. Mary. Age, 10 years. Carrie. Age, 6 years. 
There is an island in a pond near my house, where my sister 
and I often played "house." My "house" was under some 
maple-trees, and that of my sister under a grapevine. When 
I first heard of a hall in the city called Mechanics' Hall I 
was pleased with the name, and named the island Mechanics' 
Island. I told several persons that that was the name of the 
island, but no one ever used it except my sister and me. 

966. Anna. Age, 10 years. Nellie. Age, 6 years. 
Anna had a wart on her hand. I wanted one on my hand 
very much. Anna said she had heard that if you rubbed a 



GROUP IX. 181 

wart on another person's hand, the other person would have a 
wart. I let her rub my hand with her wart a long time, and 
though it hurt me I did not complain. After about a week I 
had a wart, and I believed that I had caught it. 

967. Alice. Age, from G to 10 years. At this age I felt 
a great ambition to be a public speaker. I used often to 
preach. I arranged chairs for my imaginary audience, gave 
out a hymn, sang it, made a prayer, preached a sermon, and 
pronounced a benediction. I tried to change my voice on 
different occasions. My audience was always made up of 
children, but not always of those I knew. 

968. Mary. Age, 10 years. Ellex. Age, G years. 
Mary and Ellen were greatly pleased with a picture in the 
"Bodley Family" of one girl taking the photograph of an- 
other. They asked many questions about it, and said they 
would play it. About an hour later I saw Ellen sitting for 
her picture, and Mary kneeling behind a chair, her head and 
shoulders covered with a large apron. The principal part of 
the play consisted in the directions given by Mary. She 
was never satisfied with Ellen's position or expression. She 
wished to carry out the details of the picture, even to the 
expression of Ellen's face. 

969. Boys. Age, 6 to 10 years. About twenty boys from 
six to ten years old marched two by two along the street. 
Each boy had two tomato-cans, one on each hand, which he 
constantly struck together. The leader had a drum. They 
continued this for about two hours. 

970. Gertie. Age, 7 years. Louise. Age, 10 years. 
Each of these girls sat in a rocking-chair, holding a doll. 

Gertie. How do you do, Missus ? 

Louise. Pretty well, thank you. 

Gertie. Don't this train go fast ? 

Louise. Oh, awful fast ! How is your baby ? 



182 IMITATION. 

Gertie. She is pretty well, only she got her leg broke off 
the other day. I'm taking her to Washington. The Presi- 
dent is going to fix it. 

Louise. Oh, that's too bad ! How long does it take to 
go to Washington ? 

Gertie. Only ten days and a week. 

Louise. I should think the poor baby would be dead. 

Gertie. Oh, no, Missus! I'm going to be there to-night. 
My husband lives there. Where are you going, Missus ? 
Your baby is real good, ain't she ? 

Louise. Yes, ma'am, she is. I'm going to Connecticut. 
My cousin Hattie Nichols lives there, and my Aunt Jane lives 
there. 

Gertie. What is your baby's name ? 

Louise (after hesitating a moment). My baby's name is 
Gertie. 

Gertie (laughing). Why, that's my name, and my baby's 
name too. 

Louise. That's funny, ain't it ? 

Suddenly Louise said, " Ding-dong, ding-dong ! now the 
train must stop." She then tried to make a sound like a 
train stopping, and said, " This is Connecticut ; I'm very 
sorry to go, but I must. Good-by." 

She then left the room. 

Gertie now rocked faster than before, and talked to her 
doll. She said, " Wait a minute, wait a minute ; mamma has 
something in her pocket for you." She took out a rubber 
ring, and put it on the doll's head, saying, " You're a nice 
little baby. Here's Washington ! Do you see my husband, 
baby ? He's going to take us to the President, to fix your 
poor leg." She went into the next room, where Louise was 
arranging a tea-set. 

971. Ellen. Age, 7 years. Bertha. Age, 10 years. 
These girls were making articles for a store, though they did 



GROUP IX. 183 

not sell them when they were made. They made capes by 
turning down the long lobe of a grape-leaf, and fastening the 
two sides together with a syringa bud, which they called a 
pin. Grass served for both needles and thread. Flowers and 
striped grass were used for trimming. 

972. Several Boys. Age, 7 to 10 years. A person 
called " Jack the Slasher " attacked several women in the 
street in our town, and there was much excitement about 
it. One day I saw ten or a dozen boys playing " Jack the 
Slasher." One imagined himself Jack, and chased his victims. 
When he caught one he knocked him down, and pretended to 
stab him and cut his throat. The others kept up a cry, "Jack 
the Slasher ! Jack the Slasher ! " 

973. Four Girls. Age, 7 to 10 years. The two oldest 
of these girls were marching in front. They had the brims 
of their hats turned down. The younger ones followed, hold- 
ing on to the coats of the older ones. They all tried to keep 
sober, but every few minutes stopped to laugh. 

974. Two Children. Age, about 7 and 10 years. These 
children drove a rusty hook into the piazza post at the second 
story, using a stone for a hammer. They put a rope through 
the hook, and fastened a basket to the end of the rope. The 
girl standing on the ground filled the basket with tomato- 
cans, stones, chips, etc., and the boy on the piazza drew it up 
and let it down. The girl tipped over the basket, then set 
it upright, and filled it again with the same things, and the 
boy drew it up again. 

975. Julia and Others. Age, 7 to 10 years. When 
we played " house " the family consisted of a father, mother, 
and child. The oldest girl was the father, and had nothing 
to do in the house but eat her meals. Our houses were spots 
on the ground marked off with a stick. The articles of furni- 



184 IMITATION. 

ture, as chairs, stove, and tables, were drawn on the ground 
with a stick. 

976. Marietta. Age, 7 to 10 years. I used to play that 
I was Mrs. President Grant. A colored girl four years older 
than I, who lived in our family, was always ready to play that 
she was my servant. My dresses were all of satin or velvet, 
trimmed with the most costly lace, and often completely cov- 
ered with diamonds. I wore white velvet slippers so thickly 
covered with diamonds that it was difficult to walk. We 
always played either in the kitchen or wood-room, which 
seemed to have velvet carpets about a foot thick. When I 
walked across the floor my servant used to hold up my train, 
which was yards in length. I had frequent calls from Mrs. 
General Sherman. During these calls my servant used to 
take the part of my caller, and we talked over the balls and 
parties of the day before, and also the great difficulty of get- 
ting good servants. We played this an hour or two at a time, 
and it always seemed a great come-down to have my mother 
interrupt and send me to bed. 

977. Bertha. Age, 7 to 10 years. At first I used to 
drum on the tables for a piano. When my father bought a 
writing-desk with a sliding cover I was delighted, and used it 
for a year or more as my piano. When a new sewing-machine 
was brought to the house I was again delighted, and made use 
of it for the same purpose. When I was ten I had a piano, 
but it pleased me no more than the desk had done two years 
before. I took music-lessons two years before I had my 
piano, and learned my fingering on the desk. 

978. Jennie. Age, 8 or 10 years. Mrs. Eoskett was 
principal of the school that I attended, and Miss Brown was 
a teacher. When I played school I made-believe that my 
father was the principal, and that his name was Mr. Foskett. 
I was the teacher, and called myself Miss Brown. I spent 



GBOUP IX. 185 

the time chiefly in punishing the pupils and in sending them 
to the principal to be punished. 

979. Alice. Age, 8 or 10 years. My sister sometimes 
had a sty on her eye. I wanted to have one, and tried to 
nurse up one. Sometimes I imagined that my eye was a little 
sore. 

980. Boys. Age, 8 to 10 years. Six or eight Ixys were 
standing in a row in the street, and one boy stood before them, 
giving the orders for gymnastics, which the others followed. 
What I heard was : — 

" Arms upward raise ! 
Feet sidewise place ! 
Hips firm ! " 

981. Abbie. Age, 8 years. Mary. Age, 10 years. 
"While my father and mother were at church one Sunday 
morning Abbie and I played "church." We arranged cushions 
and chairs for a pew. We played that Abbie was my guest, 
and Dan, the dog, her son. Because they were guests they 
sat at the head of the pew. We opened the services with 
singing, I leaving my seat to play the organ. We then pre- 
tended that the minister was preaching. Dan fell asleep and 
snored, at which Abbie appeared as much mortified as if he 
had been a child. She woke him up, and kept him awake by 
frequently speaking to him until the services were ended. 

982. Arthur. Age, 8 years. Ralph. Age, 10 years. 
Arthur and Ralph live in houses which are very near each 
other. The boys have stretched a wire from a window in one 
house to a window in the other, and fastened a spool to each 
end of the wire. They can hear each other talk perfectly 
well from window to window ; but they seem to have much 
pleasure in putting the spool to their mouths when they 
speak, and to their ears when they listen. 



186 IMITATION. 

983. Several Children. Age, 8, 9, and 10 years. One 
of these boys was holding a rope passed around the necks of 
two other boys, as is often done in playing " horse." " Now," 
said he to the other boys, " you are my dogs, and where I go 
you must follow." At this they jumped about, and cried 
" Bow-wow" and all ran shouting down the street. 

984. Philip. Age, 10 years. Annie. Age, 8 years. 
George. Age, 9 years. These children played that they were 
hens. Philip and George crept into some coops that had been 
made for hens and chickens. Annie ran about the yard, re- 
joicing that she could scratch all over the yard, while other 
hens were shut up. 

985. Mary. Age, 8 to 10 years. When between eight 
and ten years old I was fond of playing " store," but I wanted 
to be salesman always. I used the fruit of the plantain for 
tea ; sand for sugar ; pieces of wood for candy ; but had real 
bread, cake, and apples. When strawberries were in season I 
crushed them, and put them in water to make strawberry 
lemonade. For pay I took pins and picture cards. 

986. Herbert. Age, about 10 years. When my playmates 
and I played " store," our principal stock-in-trade was whips, 
made of the slender shoots of white birch. They were of all 
grades and prices. We peeled off the bark in rings, to make 
them fanciful. We did a strictly cash business, mullein 
leaves, on account of their scarcity, being the money. The 
value was in proportion to the size of the leaf, the largest 
being sometimes passed for a hundred dollars. Such were 
rarely used, unless the whole stock was sold. Partnerships 
were sometimes formed. 

987. Several Boys. Age, 8 to 10 years. Last summer 
the boys of the neighborhood gathered at the back of a barn 
to play " horse." A plank lying on the ground with barrel- 
staves placed at intervals made the stalls. There were ten 



GROUP IX. 187 

horses and one driver. The horses were not allowed to speak, 
but were supposed to act like horses by biting, kicking, and 
neighing. The driver always took out two at a time, and kept 
them out about ten minutes. Sometimes boys were obliged to 
be silent for half an hour. The play was repeated every 
morning for about two weeks. 

988. Louisa. Age, 8 or 10 years. My brother and I 
used to spend much time on a seat in an elm-tree, playing we 
were eagles. When any small birds came into the tree we 
threw our arms about and screamed, playing that we were 
catching the birds for our young ones. 

989. Many Boys. Age, about 8 and 10 years. The boys 
of our neighborhood had a long time of playing " Indians " 
this spring. They rubbed colored chalk on their faces, put 
feathers in their hair, wore red tablecloths for blankets, and 
stuck wooden hatchets and knives in their belts. They took 
pride in making their hatchets and bows and arrows neatly. 
They built a lodge at a short distance from the village. When 
they paraded through the village in single file they were fol- 
lowed by the smaller boys, who were not permitted to join the 
band, and who had to be occasionally dispersed with war- 
whoops and yells. 

990. Unknown. Age, 8 or 10 years. I met a little boy 
in the street wearing a pair of broken spectacles. One eye 
and one bow were broken off. He looked up at me without a 
trace of a smile on his face, though I smiled. 

991. Many Boys. Age, 8 to 10 years. I have seen the 
boys who attend the French parochial school several mornings 
walking in procession, their hands folded in front. Each had 
the cape of his coat pinned up over his head like a hood, and 
a book attached to a string fastened to the back of his coat, 
and dragging on the ground. This I took to be in imitation 
of the nuns. 



188 IMITATION. 

992. Name Unknown. Age, 9 or 10 years. This boy- 
was walking on the street. He stopped, blew a whistle once, 
paused a moment, and blew it twice. He then ran, shaking 
his head and prancing. He again blew the whistle once, 
stopped, and blew it twice. Then he ran again. I observed 
afterwards that the conductor of the horse-car struck the bell 
once, and after a moment struck it twice. 

993. Julia. Age, 9 years. Anna. Age, 10 years. We 
spent a great deal of time one summer playing with horses, 
and having races. Our horses were simply long sticks or 
poles, and the colts shorter sticks. We kept them in a shed, 
and fed them every morning with grass cut the day before. 
We also led them out every morning to drink. We had races 
on alternate days. 

994. Many Children. Age, 9 and 10 years. At school 
we played what we called " horse " in this way : A part of the 
schoolyard was marked off for a stable. One set of boys 
acted as stablekeepers, and another set as horses. The 
remaining boys and the girls hired the horses to go to ride, 
paying for them with cancelled postage-stamps. 

995. Cora. Age, 9 or 10 years. In playing " school " I 
have used stones, empty spools, button-moulds, buttons, and 
marbles for pupils. When I used spools I wrote the initials 
or names of the pupils on them. 

996. Two Boys. Age, 9 or 10 years. I saw two boys 
running around a church, one of them carrying a long stick. 
They stopped in front of the church ; and while one pretended 
to bore into the church wall with the stick, the other cried, 
" Fire." 

997. Two Boys. Age, 9 or 10 years. These boys were 
playing " horse " with a clothesline for reins. The horse and 
driver were so far apart that the driver had no control over 
the horse, and he had no whip. 



GROUP IX. 189 

998. S. E. Pollard. Age, 9 or 10 years. I sometimes 
thought of my mother as my doll's grandmother. The doll's 
name was Bessie Pollard. 

999. Emma. Age, 10 years. Emma wanted to dress her 
spool boys in some new leather she had just got. She found 
" Bill," but not the other two. At last she found two spools 
which were dirty and broken. She was dissatisfied, but said, 
" I am going to play they have been sick, and that's what 
makes them look so." 

1000. Three Boys. Age, about 10 years. These boys 
were playing highway robbers. Two of them hid behind the 
house ; and when the third walked by they rushed out, and 
caught hold of him. One held his hands, and the other tied 
a handkerchief over his eyes. Both put their hands in his 
pockets, and then ran away. 

1001. Two Bo vs. Age, about 10 years. These boys 
were coasting. In one part of the field were snowdrifts six 
or eight feet high. One boy said, " I'll play I bought three 
hundred acres of land, and this field is it." He then pointed 
to one spot, and said, " This is Pennsylvania, and this snow- 
drift the Rocky Mountains." The second boy, pointing to a 
snowdrift, said, "This is the Appalachian Mountains." After 
some discussion as to which were highest, and both claiming 
the Rocky Mountains, they resumed their coasting, saying 
they were sliding down the mountains. 

1002. Four Boys. Age, about 9 or 10 years. On the 
night after the parade I saw four boys marching along the 
street with sticks over their shoulders. A fifth boy was 
acting as captain. Every few minutes he turned about, and 
made a kind of heavy grunt, which they seemed to understand 
as " Halt." 

1003. Several Children. Age, 9 or 10 years. The 
word "hollow" was in the reading-lesson. The teacher spoke 



190 IMITATION. 

of hollow cheeks, whereupon six or seven boys began to make 
their cheeks hollow, some by placing their fingers on their 
cheeks, others by drawing in their cheeks. 

1004. Two Boys. Age, 9 and 10 years. I saw two boys 
put a box about the size of a soap-box into a mud-puddle, 
both get into the box, and stand up, while one paddled with a 
broom. 

1005. Edith. Age, 9 or 10 years. When I was nine or 
ten years old women wore hoopskirts. We girls made hoop- 
skirts of barrel-hoops and strings. We made bustles of news- 
paper. 

1006. Carrie. Age, 9 or 10 years. When I was nine or 
ten years old my playmates and I used to make-believe we 
were mothers. We had nothing to represent children, but we 
talked a great deal about the way we dressed them. One of 
the girls said she dressed hers in silks and satins, with numer- 
ous ruffles. Another said that in summer her children wore 
muslin, and in winter only comfortable plain dresses. She 
"did not believe in loading children with silks and ruffles." 

1007. Charles and Philip. Age, 9 and 10 years. These 
boys had a pin-store on the piazza. When I first saw them 
they were selling at auction to two customers. They asked 
me to look around their " immense store.''" The counter was 
a box. On it were great numbers of paper caps and boats, 
and a box of bright-colored pictures cut from play-bills, etc. 
A spool of twine was fastened to the wall in such a way that 
it would revolve easily. Behind the counter was a curtain, 
which concealed the workroom, where one of the partners 
made the caps and boats. On the walls were hung books of 
samples of wall-paper. In a corner was a dog-kennel. One 
of the partners pointed to it, and said, " Here is our safe 
where we keep our money-box. These papers are our checks 
and billheads." When I questioned the strength of the safe, 



GROUP IX. 191 

he said, " We have two doors to it." I bought some wall- 
paper ; and as the boy wrapped it up, he said, " Do you want 
a bag-check ? 1 asked him to explain, when he said, " Why, 
if you want to leave your paper here I will give you a check 
for it ; and when you come back for it you give me the check, 
and I will give you the bundle of the same number." 

1008. Six Boys. Age, about 10 years. Six boys were 
marching in the road two abreast. Two were carrying an iron 
hoop about four feet in diameter, which they were pounding as 
if it were a drum. Two others had long sticks over their 
shoulders with meal-bags on the ends. The remaining two 
had short sticks, and were apparently giving orders. Some 
had ropes around their waists. 

1009. Several Girls. Age, about 10 years. One girl 
carried a small white parasol. Another had the brim of her 
hat turned down so that it looked like a man's, and carried a 
cane. They were walking arm in arm. Two smaller girls 
walked behind them, holding up their cloaks. Every few 
minutes they stopped and laughed. 

1010. Sarah. Age, about 10 years. We had a neighbor, 
an old man, who kept his mouth on one side. I thought it 
looked nice, and kept mine so for as much as two weeks, 
until my mother made me break off the habit. 

1011. Unknown". Age, about 10 years. I saw two boys 
each with a roll of paper in his mouth about the size of a 
cigarette. The boys were puffing and spitting. 

1012. Clarence. Age, 10 years. Jessie. Age, 8 years. 
Addie. Age, 5 years. We attended the Baptist Church, and 
had seen several baptisms. We used to play " baptize " on a 
feather bed. The person to be baptized would stand up, and 
the minister stand beside her with one hand on her back, and 
one on her chest. Then the minister would say, " My sister, 



192 IMITATION. 

I baptize thee in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy 
Ghost." Then he would throw her down on the bed, and 
when she got up again say, " Amen ! " 

1013. Unknown. Age, about 10 years. I saw a group 
of four boys. On looking more closely I saw that one was 
dancing a break-down. The others were looking on with 
great interest and admiration. 

1014. Jennie and Others. Age, about 10 years. A fa- 
vorite play of ours was " house." The house was a square or 
oblong space marked off by small stones, with two openings 
for doors. One corner was marked off for a bedroom, the re- 
maining space was a kitchen. A door led from the kitchen to 
the bedroom. Some girl was designated as husband, and I 
usually was the wife. The husband collected pieces of broken 
crockery, and flowers, while I stayed at home to clean the 
house, arrange the dishes, and get the meals. We usually 
took food from our homes. Water we brought from a spring. 
We made mud-pies, and baked them on a stone Avail near by, 
called the oven. Our dolls were the children, though some- 
times the smaller girls took this part. Stones served for 
chairs and tables. 

1015. Flora. Age, about 10 years. I used to cut the 
figures of children from fashion papers to use as scholars 
when I played " school." I made desks and seats by bending 
cardboard. The seats I arranged in rows of eight. I always 
took the part of the teacher (a lady doll), and made her pun- 
ish all the scholars that slipped down in their seats. My 
younger sister answered when I asked questions in arithme- 
tic and geography. 

1016. Effie and Others. Age, about 10 years. My 
sisters and I saw the play of " Golden Hair and the Three 
Bears," and afterwards acted it many times. There were 
three beds in our bedroom, and with three chairs and three 



GROUP IX. 193 

bowls of milk we were completely equipped. We took the 
different parts by turn, but we liked best the part of Golden 
Hair. We imitated the voices of the bears, and did what we 
had seen done in the play. For a window we placed a shoe- 
box in front of the clothes-press door. On this Golden 
Hair stood to sing " Good-by, Three Bears," and when the 
bears rushed at her she jumped down into the clothes- 
press. 

1017. Unknown. Boy. Age, 10 years. Girl. Age, 4 
years. I saw a boy riding his velocipede, and driving a girl 
before him as a horse. He had a long whip, and made fre- 
quent use of it. Although the little girl had to run fast she 
seemed to have as much fun as the boy. 

1018. E. R., B. F., M. S. Age, about 10 years. These 
girls have spent a great deal of time this summer in playing 
"house" in the woods. In a cleared spot each had several 
rooms laid out. In the kitchens they had managed to drive 
posts into the ground, and place boards on them for shelves. 
One girl had a cupboard made for her by her brother. They 
collected a great quantity of broken crockery, old tin dishes, 
teapots, knives, forks, spoons, bits of glassware, etc. They 
cooked a variety of articles made of sand and water and 
pounded brick. They took great pride in setting their tables 
neatly, and the ground looked as if it had been swept very 
hard. One girl was less orderly than the others, and was 
looked down upon in consequence. 

1019. Four Boys. Age, about 10 years. I heard a great 
shouting as the boys were coming home from school. Pres- 
ently two boys came in sight, running very fast. They were 
carrying between them a stick, on which were hung their 
dinner-pails, and were chased by two other boys, screaming 
and shouting. They called out to me that they were driving 
two hundred head of cattle. 



194 IMITATION. 

1020. Sarah. Age, about 10 years. I cut off my doll's 
hair two or three times to make it grow, and was surprised 
arid disappointed to find that it did not. 

1021. Edna. Age, about 10 years. As I approached the 
house I saw Edna and two other children standing in the 
gateway. One of the children said to Edna, " Can I go out to 
play, mamma ? " They stepped one side to let me pass ; and 
Edna said to me, " It's hard to keep the children quiet. 
They've been to school, and if I leave them a moment they're 
gone." 

1022. Unknown. Age, about 10 years. I saw a boy 
passing along the street with a cake of hard snow upon his 
head, and calling, " Comb honey ! comb honey ! " 

1023. George. Age, about 10 years. George hitched his 
sled to the rear of a sleigh. His face had an angry expres- 
sion; and he kept jerking the rope of his sled, and making 
faces as I have seen men do when trying to manage a 
frightened horse. 

1024. Rose. Age, 10 years. I was once whipped and 
kept in the house for disobeying my mother. Some of my 
playmates sat on the doorsteps, waiting to see if I could come 
out again. I carried a pail of water to an upper window, 
and poured it out onto them. I did this because I thought I 
should be like some persons I had heard or read of that " took 
revenge." 

1025. Isabella. Age, 10 years. When Isabella played 
" horse" she would not eat bread or crackers, because horses 
do not. However hungry, she waited until the play was over 
before eating such things. 

1026. Lucy. Age, 10 years. Lucy sometimes spends as 
much as half an hour in measuring chairs, tables, etc., with a 
ruler or tape-measure. She writes down the number of inches 
of the measurement, but not the name of the article measured. 



GROUP IX. 195 

1027. Unknown. Age, about 10 years. I saw this boy 
digging the snow out of the gutter with a hoe. He said, 
"I'm a city man; I get two dollars and a half a day." 

1028. Unknown. Age, about 10 years. A child that is 
not lame walked lame behind a lame man for nearly five 
minutes. 

1029. Robbie. Age, 10 years. Robbie made a snow hut, 
and fastened a bag over the opening to keep out the snow. 
He kept his sleds in it, and called them his horses. 

1030. Two Girls. Age, about 10 years. I saAv two girls 
playing " prisoners' base," a game in which four is usually the 
smallest number to engage. First they were both on one side, 
and one had been caught by the enemy. The other made 
frantic endeavors to " relieve " her. Then the prisoner 
became an enemy, and ran out to keep the other away. 
Then she again became a prisoner to be relieved. 

1031. Elizabeth. Age, 10 years. We have a book con- 
taining a picture called "After the Flood." Elizabeth has 
seen the picture, and it is very disagreeable to her. She was 
playing with her doll, whose arms are broken off. She called 
to me to look, saying, " See, this is after the Flood." The 
doll's arms were so placed as to make a right angle, and the 
hands were clasped. 

1032. Addie. Age, 10 years. The schools in the build- 
ing where I was a pupil were dismissed by a bell. I did not 
know how the bell was rung, but I supposed some one went 
up the stairs into the belfry to ring it. Every day about a 
minute before the time for dismission I would make two 
fingers walk across my desk, making-believe I was going up 
the steps into the belfry to ring the bell. 

1033. Bertha. Age, 10 years. The playhouse that I 
remember with most pleasure was made under a balm-of- 



196 IMITATION. 

Gilead-tree. Spaces were marked off for several rooms by 
white stones, and twigs of the tree stuck into the ground 
as croquet wickets are. The parlor carpet was of green and 
white moss, brought a long distance in baskets. The tree 
grew by a stone wall, and this served as a partition between 
the kitchen and parlor. A few stones were taken off the wall, 
and placed as steps on either side of the walL I could easily 
step from the wall to a limb of the tree, and this I called up- 
stairs. The top of the tree I called my conservatory. Other 
girls shared this house with me, and each of us tried to collect 
the greatest number of whole dishes. I went from house to 
house asking for old dishes. We made mud-pies, and frosted 
them with chalk, used chalk and water for milk, and gathered 
wild berries for food. 

1034. Nathan and Others. Age, 10 years. Nathan 
made arrangements with three other boys to sleep in the attic 
to watch the old year out. They had planned to sleep on 
some old carpet, and burn Japanese lanterns to keep them 
awake. Nathan's mother had gone away, and his grand- 
mother was staying with him. When he came to get matches 
to light the lanterns his grandmother learned his plans. The 
other three boys had said nothing to their mothers about it. 

1035. Lucia. Age, 10 years. It was Sunday, and Lucia's 
grandmother told her she must change her dress. Lucia's 
aunt said, " Oh, let her keep it on a while ; it's new, and I re- 
member how I liked to wear a new dress when I was small." 
A while after, Lucia's grandfather was sitting with his hat on ; 
and Lucia was overheard saying to herself, " It's new, and he 
likes to keep it on." 

1036. Anna. Age, 10 years. Anna asked me if I would 
turn her music for her. The end of the table was her piano, 
and her music was propped up on a dictionary. She told me 
to sit down, and, when she nodded her head, to get up and turn 



GROUP IX. 197 

over a leaf. She drummed on the table for half an hour, nod- 
ding her head very often. I turned nearly all the leaves of 
the book. 

1037. Unknown. Age, about 10 years. Four boys were 
playing " fire-engine " near my house. They had made a snow- 
man, and this they played was the burning house. They had 
two sleds. Two boys sat on the sleds, and two drew them. 
They went to the end of the street, and ran with the sleds to 
the place of the fire. They fastened the sled-ropes to the 
snow-man by means of other snow, and then imitated with 
their hands the holding of a hose-pipe. One climbed to the 
top of the snow-man, another handed a sled-rope up to him, 
and he seemed to be wetting the roof with it. Every few sec- 
onds one would call out, " One hundred and sixty more blankets 
here ! : ' putting his hand to his mouth as if talking from 
a distance. This cry would be caught up by another, and 
passed along to a third. They went through with this a good 
many times, the play lasting half an hour, when the boys were 
called in to supper. 

1038. Idaline. Age, 10 years. I had twelve paper dolls ; 
and I made a list of their names, that I might always place 
them in the same order when I played " school." I read with 
my book upside down, playing that one scholar read until I 
made a mistake. I read one book so much that I learned it 
by heart. 

1039. Ciianning. Age, 10 years. One of the neighbors 
was dead, and there was crape on the door. Channing asked 
for a piece of black cloth. It was the 1st of April; and he 
wanted to put the cloth on some one's bell, and then ring it. 

1040. Grace. Age, 10 years. Grace visited a kinder- 
garten twice. She then opened a kindergarten in the barn, 
and has two pupils. She tries to do as nearly as possible 
what the teachers of the kindergarten do. 



198 IMITATION. 

1041. Cora. Age, 10 years. When a certain playmate 
of mine came to see me, one of the things we did was to have 
a Communion Service as we had seen it at church. We were 
both very solemn and earnest about it. We held it out-of- 
doors, sitting on a wash-bench, and having two chairs in front 
of us. I broke some bread into pieces, and put it on a plate, 
and got a small goblet of water. (I supposed then that water 
was used at church.) I very solemnly passed the plate of 
bread, and we both took a piece. We then bowed our heads 
on the backs of the chairs in front of us. I passed the water, 
and we did as before. 

1042. Mary. Age, 10 years. I played " store " under 
some maples in front of our house. A stone wall was the 
store, the chinks and holes serving as shelves and counters. 
Along by the Avail was a strip of ground where the grass did 
not grow; and this I called the street, taking pains to keep it 
clean, and walking in it with a little swing of my body as I 
went to and from the store. I had real apples, and sometimes 
cakes and cookies, to sell. I was sometimes storekeeper, and 
sometimes customer. 

1043. Unknown. Age, about 10 years. A man with a 
wooden leg walked up a street followed by two boys. When 
the man reached his house he took a key from his pocket, 
ascended the steps with some difficulty, and, opening the 
door, entered. A few hours later I saw the same boys on the 
same street taking turns in walking like the lame man, keep- 
ing one leg stiff, and swinging around it at each step. When 
they came to a house with steps they went up the steps with 
great pretended difficulty, and made-believe open the door 
with a knife. 

1044. Emma. Age, 10 years. Emma was in a room by 
herself, singing. A book of poetry was standing on the table 
before her, and she was making-believe play on an organ 
while she sang the poetry. 



GROUP IX. 199 

1045. Elmer. Age, 10 years. My brother likes to play 
he is a draughtsman. He holds a long stick at arm's length 
to measure things at a distance, and looks across the top of 
a long board to find out how high the panels of the door and 
other articles in the room come on the board. 

1046. Mary and Margaret. Age, 10 years. Mary 
and I played " school." She was the teacher, and I was all 
the pupils. When she called the roll, she told me when to 
say " Present." I read and spelled for all the pupils present. 
She read the name, and looked at the list of names to see if 
the pupil was present. If the name was followed by the 
absent mark, she said, " Now you say, i She isn't here, 
teacher.' " 

1047. Lucy. Age, 10 years, 1 month. I saw Lucy teach- 
ing her cat to sing the scale. She took hold of the cat's paw 
to beat time, and sang the scale, saying, " Mew, mew." She 
repeated it several times, saying, "That was horrid," or, 
"Very good indeed." 

1048. Henry. Age, 10 years, 2 months. Henry tied a 
piece of paper four or five inches square to each of the cat's 
hind legs. When the cat succeeded in getting one piece off 
Henry said, " Baby, you must keep those stockings on." 

1049. Louise. Age, 10 years. Louise brought Jesse, 
who is three years old, to our house. Something was done 
for him for which he should have said, " Thank you." He 
refused to say it ; and after a few minutes of fruitless persua- 
sion Louise took him into another room, and when they came 
back Jesse said, "Thank you." Louise did this without sug- 
gestion from any one. 

1050. Mary. Age, 10 years, 3 months. Mary has a book 
in which she pastes pictures of different articles of furniture. 
Each page is a room, in which she puts appropriate pictures, 
as, in the kitchen, a stove, a sink, a table, etc. 



200 IMITATION. 

1051. Annie. Age, 10 years, 6 months. I had to take 
care of iny baby brother, and could do this and play " horse " 
at the same time, because he liked to ride in his baby carriage, 
which had two wheels, and a tongue in front. My brother, 
who was five, played with me, one of us being the horse and 
one the driver. I think I should have been ashamed to play 
" horse " when I was so old if I had not been able to excuse 
myself by saying that I was amusing my brothers ; but I do 
not think they enjoyed it more than I did. 

1052. Charlie. Age, 10 years, 7 months. Charlie 
climbed up on the woodpile, and then went down on his hands 
and knees. Gertrude was looking out of the window ; and he 
said to her, " I shouldn't think a goat would like to walk with 
his head down like this." 

1053. Winnie. Age, 10 years, 10 months. Winnie is 
building 'and furnishing a house. The house is a salt-box 
resting on one side. She has drawn windows on the walls, 
and carpeted the floor. She has made curtains trimmed with 
lace for the windows, and hung a j^ortiere at the front door. 
She is making a sofa of thin pieces of wood covered with 
gingham. It is only two and a half inches long, but is 
shapely and complete. 

1054. Nellie and Others. Age, 10 years. We used 
to play "church" in a carriage. The minister sat on the 
front seat. The meeting was opened by saying, " Now I lay 
me down to sleep," and consisted chiefly of prayer. Our 
dolls were jointed, and we always made them kneel and sit at 
the proper times. 

1055. Unknown. Age, — years. This boy had attached 
the rope of his sled to his buttonhole, and was drawing his 
sled across the sidewalk, the length of the sled being parallel 
to the width of the walk. He cleared the walk of snow in 
this way. 



GROUP IX. 201 

1056. Unknown. Age, — years. When the street-car 
■was almost at the end of the route eight or ten boys ran out 
of a side street, calling to the conductor to stop. When the 
car stopped they all filed into it, and took seats very seriously. 
Three of them, who appeared to be leaders, had on old hats 
and coats much too large for them, and one carried a cane. 
The conductor pretended to collect their fare, and the leaders 
fumbled in their pockets with an assumed air of embarrass- 
ment. He asked them where they were going, and they said, 
" To the Bay State Hotel." He allowed them to ride until he 
made the first stop, when they left in a much less dignified 
way than they had entered. 



202 IMITATION. 



GROUP X. 

Ages between 11 and 12. 



1057. Several Children. Age, from 4 to 11 years. On 
the morning of Washington's Birthday I saw four children, 
three boys and a girl, marching through the school hall sing- 
ing. The oldest, a boy of eleven, headed the column. He 
had on a cap with a gilt band around it, and carried a toy 
sword over his shoulder. The next, a boy of nine, had a 
small hatchet on his shoulder ; the girl, seven years old, 
carried a small wooden sword ; and the boy of four had a 
wooden gun. They sang a kind of march in their language, 
and kept good time. They continued the play for about half 
an hour. 

1058. Several Children. Age, 5 to 11 years. The girls 
knelt on the floor ; and the boy, pretending to be a bear, came 
and made-believe bite them. After biting each of the three 
first, he made a face as if he did not like the taste ; but when 
he bit the fourth he said, " This is a good one." 

They then played that it was night, and when they were 
asleep the bear stole their children (their dolls). When he 
took one they screamed, "The baby's gone ! the baby's gone I" 

1059. Josie and Others. Age, 5 to 11 years. We 
dressed up in old clothes, some of them belonging to my 
mother, and some of them garments that we had outgrown. 
We made a house by piling up tables and chairs, and covering 
them with cloaks, table-covers, etc. Our food was what we 
called " molasses pudding ; " that is, molasses thickened with 



GROUP X. 203 

bread crumbs. The mother fed this to the children from a 
spoon. As soon as they had had this breakfast she sent them 
to work; and they had to stay all day, until she cried, "Ding- 
a-ling-a-ling." 

1060. Nine Boys. Age, 5 to 11 years. These boys were 
marching in the street. One marching in front carried a 
banner made of white cloth with a border of red. Three had 
on paper caps, their own caps being worn on a belt at the 
waist. The others had red bands on their caps, and white 
strips of cloth on their trousers. The captain carried a short 
wooden sword, and a stick with a paper fastened to it at one 
end. He gave various orders, as, " Left face ! " etc., which the 
company executed, and then marched off up the street, sing- 
ing, "John Brown's body," etc. 

1061. Three Children. Age, 6, 9, and 11 years. These 
children buried their pet cat. The owner put the cat in a 
bandbox, head downward, and after looking at it sorrowfully, 
said, " Poor kitty ! it was horrid mean in that dog to bite 
you ; but I wish you fitted into this box better." Then tak- 
ing a stone she pounded the body into the box. When the 
grave was ready she put the box into it, and said, " Here lies 
dear Belva in rest. Let her have peace." The grave was 
then covered over ; but the children wanted to see the cat 
again, and so removed the dirt, and looked at her. When 
the grave was covered again, the owner wrote this inscription 
on a board : — 

BELVA 
AGE 

5 

MONTHS 

DIED 

1062. Annie. Age, 7 years. Ella. Age, 11 years. 
We were fond of playing tableaux. We hung a shawl across 
the corner of the room, including in the space behind it a door 



204 IMITATION. 

leading into another room and a closet. We collected behind 
the curtain such articles as we needed. We felt very rich in 
having so many conveniences behind the curtain; we found 
it increased the space to have the door into the closet open, 
and we liked to slip into the other room without being seen 
by the audience. We were satisfied with a very small au- 
dience, and I think we may have played sometimes without 
any. I have forgotten what tableaux we had, with one ex- 
ception. We sometimes represented " The Evening Prayer ; " 
but my grandmother suggested that it was not right to make 
sport of anything so sacred as prayer. 

1063. Louisa. Age, from 7 to 11 years. I had a small 
croquet set given me. It was mounted on a table. I did not 
know how to play the game ; but I spent hours at a time 
making-believe the balls Avere dolls, and the wickets rooms 
of a house. I named the balls from the colored stripes on 
them, as recldy, bluey, etc. I sent them all over the board 
with a mallet, and pretended they were running around. We 
played with these balls in preference to our dolls. 

1064. Anna. Age, 7 to 11 years. We used to play 
house in a tent which we made of blankets. When it rained 
we covered the tent with our waterproof cloaks. Delia and 
I were alternately mother and child. 

1065. Several Boys. Age, about 7 to 11 years. I saw 
a group of boys in the street, one of whom appeared to be 
acting as commander. He formed the others in a line, and 
gave the order, " Halt ! " He then said in an undertone, " Be 
ready with your left foot to march." Each boy put his left 
foot in advance of the other. The commander did not think 
this proper ; but the other boys did, and kept the foot in ad- 
vance. The next order was, " Mark time ! " then " March ! " 
They started off well, the commander saying, "Eyes up! 
Look straight ahead ! " 



GROUP X. 205 

1066. Seven Boys. Age, 8 to 11 years. I saw seven 
boys playing " soldier." Six were marching in couples, the 
seventh was commanding. They said, " Rum-i-tum-tum," to 
keep time. They had on paper caps, their own caps hanging 
at their belts. Some had wooden swords, and some, flags. 
The leader swung his sword about in the air, and walked 
backward a part of the time, scowling at the boys who did 
not keep time. 

1067. Four Girls. Age, 8 to 11 years. One of these 
girls was playing a harmonica, two were making-believe play 
the violin, one drawing a stick across her left arm, the other 
having not even a stick, and a fourth was playing conductor. 
All were singing loudly. 

1068. Howard. Age, 11 years. James. Age, 8 years, 
10 months. Howard and James are forming a Salvation 
Army. They have cut letters from cloth, and sewed them on 
their jackets to indicate their order. 

1069. Mary. Age, 8 toll years. We made our " houses " 
by enclosing a space with stones. When we wished to open 
the door we pushed aside a stone. Usually we placed the 
kitchen in the right-hand corner most remote from the door. 
Here we built a fireplace of bricks, and in it placed pieces of 
wood and dried leaves. We had a pantry containing pieces 
of broken crockery, and a table formed of a board or two 
stones. We generally took the names of rich people of whom 
we had heard. 

1070. Florence. Age, 8 to 11 years. I used to play 
" hotel " with my brothers and sisters in an apple-tree, the 
limbs of which are so forked as to make excellent seats. In 
one part of the tree where the seats were nearest together we 
had the dining-room. On the other sides were our rooms, 
and here we sat for hours playing with our dolls or reading. 



206 IMITATION. 

When we did not carry a luncheon we ate an imaginary din- 
ner in the dining-room. I remember nothing in my childhood 
pleasanter than this play of " hotel." 

1071. Cora. Age, 9 to 11 years. My sisters and I used 
to play "prayer-meeting." We arranged our dolls in rows. 
One of us was the minister. The meeting was as orderly as 
the meetings of grown people usually are. Our favorite time 
for playing it was between sunset and supper-time, when we 
could have the sitting-room to ourselves. If any one came 
into the room the meeting was at once closed. 

1072. Several Children. Age, 9 to 11 years. Some 
children raked up a pile of leaves in front of a stone post. 
One stood on the post, and another said, " I baptize you in the 
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen ! " The child on the 
post then jumped into the pile of leaves. Two or three would 
pile up the leaves again, and another child would mount the 
post, saying, " It's my turn now," and the performance would 
be repeated. 

1073. Minnie and Others. Age, 10 or 11 years. There 
was a burying-ground near the schoolhouse. One day several 
of us buried a doll there. It seems as if the doll were made 
for the purpose. We carried small bottles of water with us, 
and wet our eyes with the water, for tears. 

1074. Unknown. Age, 10 or 11 years. Several boys 
were sitting on the ground, one being somewhat conspicuous in 
the centre. Another boy stood before him, holding a wooden 
gun, and shouting, " Where did you put the money ? Tell me 
or I will shoot you ! " I could not hear the reply ; but soon 
the boy addressed started up and ran away, crying, " Shoot 
away ! " The boy with the gun shouted, " Bang ! you're 
dead ! " 

1075. Marion. Age, 10 years. Horace. Age, 11 years. 
Marion and Horace went to the circus. After they came 



GROUP X. 207 

home I saw them trying to suspend themselves from a ladder 
which was resting against a tree, first by their arms, then by 
their feet. When they were forbidden to do this they went 
behind the barn, where they thought they should not be seen, 
and turned somersaults, and tried jumping over a chair. 

1076. Mary. Age, 10 years. Hattie. Age, 11 years. 
Mary and Hattie put on long dresses, and play they are French 
ladies. They talk some kind of gibberish, and make gestures 
to convey their meaning. 

1077. Cora. Age, about 11 years. I had learned at school 
that Quito was on the equator, and could be reached by going 
around Cape Horn. We used to take our dolls, with all their 
thinnest clothing, and play go around Cape Horn. Icebergs 
used to come very near the ship, but never struck it. It seems 
to me I can remember feeling genuine fear lest they should 
strike it. 

1078. Emma. Age, about 11 years. I used to visit a lady 
who had kept a doll that she used to play with when a child. 
When I was about eleven years old I thought I was too old to 
play with dolls, and packed away one of mine, with all its 
clothing, in a box. I pleased myself with thinking that when 
I was older I should take it out, and show it to children. I 
kept it in the box about two weeks, and continued to play 
with dolls for two years longer. 

1079. George and Amos. Age, about 11 years. George 
and Amos have organized a theatrical company, and made prep- 
arations for a " show." They have composed two plays, the 
titles of which I do not remember, but the subjects and the 
characters are very sensational. George told me that in one 
of the plays he and his friend were to be cowboys, and fight 
with swords and pistols. He and Amos are the managers, 
and hire their support, — two girls and two boys I believe, — 



208 IMITATION. 

and are to pay them out of the proceeds of the show. They 
have had tickets printed at the printing-office like this : — 

OUR SHOW. 
Taft and Mason, Managers'. 
ADMIT ONE. 

1080. Emma and Cora. Age, about 11 years. Cora and 
I at first built a playhouse of boards, and then moved to 
better and better quarters, until we got possession of an old 
corn-house. We partitioned this into four rooms with old 
fences. I put in a door-bell that would ring perhaps six out 
of ten times, and a sink which I considered my masterpiece. 
It consisted of a box nailed to the side of the house, and a 
cupboard made of boards below, with a door hung on leather 
hinges. I lined it with zinc, and put in a spout, leading out- 
side of the house. In sawing a hole for the spout I disturbed 
a bumblebee's nest. This brought on a series of engagements 
which lasted nearly a week. Every time we went to the 
house we stirred up the bees with a long pole, and then ran 
home. They finally evacuated, and we put up the spout. 
We collected carpets and furniture, and after some one gave 
us a table we often took our dinners there. We considered 
ourselves the richest people in the world, and often gave 
parties to our parents and others. At length we thought if 
we could sleep in our house we should be keeping house like 
other people. But we were afraid to sleep on the first floor, 
and my skill in carpentry did not enable me to make an " up- 
stairs." We devised several means for raising money to pay 
a carpenter. We never fully carried out the schemes, how- 
ever, and finally abandoned the idea. 

1081. Several Boys. Age, 9 to 11 years. Each boy had 
a long, slender stick, which he carried over his shoulder at 
such times as the play permitted. Nathan and James were 
the captains. The other three would conceal themselves 



GROUP X. 209 

below the terrace, but, as soon as the captains turned their 
backs, would jump up and run about. Then the captains 
would turn around suddenly, and, putting their guns to their 
shoulders, cry, " Bang ! " and the boy aimed at would fall to 
the ground, with his eyes shut and his arms stretched out. 
Then the captains would take him by the head and feet, and 
carry him a short distance, and drop him. He jumped up, 
and the game began again. 

1082. Edith. Age, 9 year.?. Charlie. Age, 11 years. 
Every day for a week, except on Sunday, when their mother 
forbade it, Edith and Charlie have played funeral. Edith 
pins a dark shawl on the back of her head, and Charlie draws 
his wagon, containing any convenient box. They dig a grave, 
and sing. Charlie does most of the singing, because Edith 
weeps during that part of the ceremony. Once I saw Charlie 
make-believe cry ; then Edith told him that was her part ; 
that boys never cried. 

1083. Mabel. Age, about 11 years. Annie and I had 
read " The Asbury Twins." She took the name of Vic, and I 
of Van. We did not attempt to act any incidents of the story, 
but simply took the names and characters. We kept it up for 
at least a year (with interruptions) ; and, as I remember it 
now, we had a clear idea of the characters. 

1084. Alice. Age, about 11 years. I used to amuse 
myself by playing that the lines on the palm of my hand 
were railroads. I moved a pin along them, trying to reach a 
certain point by following them. 

1085. Norman. Age, 11 years. Norman was much in- 
terested in seeing chickens hatched in an incubator at a 
certain fair. He keeps two eggs in the hot-air oven of his 
mother's kitchen stove, with the expectation that some time 
two chickens will be hatched. 



210 IMITATION. 

1086. Ellen. Age, about 11 years. One of our ways of 
playing " house " was to place books on the floor or table to 
form the rooms. We used, our blocks for tables, chairs, stoves, 
etc., and spools for people. Small spools were children. We 
moved them about, and talked for them. My brother was 
generally the head of the house, and had a barn fitted up with 
the animals from a "Noah's Ark." 

1087. Mary. Age, about 11 years. We used to play at 
being milliner. We used the broad leaves of the hazel for 
hats, and trimmed them with daisies, clover, yarrow, etc. 
We fastened on the trimming with birch twigs. 

1088. Nellie and Others. Age, about 11 years. Six 
girls joined me in forming what we called a Blue Necktie 
Association. We held meetings twice a week in a horse-shed 
behind the schoolhouse, or, as we said, at 216 East Street. 
We hung up shawls at the front of the shed to secure our- 
selves from the attacks of the girls who did not belong to the 
association, and the boys. Our object was to count every 
blue necktie we saw on boy or man. The person who wore 
the one hundredth tie was the one we should surely marry 
when we grew up. As we lived in a country town, we did not 
see many men, and of course not many blue neckties ; and the 
question arose of counting in old men. Desirous as we were 
of getting one hundred, we did not want an old man to be the 
one hundredth. Cattle-show day was a very fruitful one for 
blue neckties, and we had a busy time of it. Most of us got 
one hundred ties ; but we did not know who the wearers 
were, and that was bad. We had a book containing a list 
of our names and a record of the number of ties seen ; but 
of course the record had to be made from the report of 
the observer, and we accused each other of cheating. At 
the next meeting after the cattle-show we decided to " smash 
up." 



GROUP X. 211 

10S9. Sadie. Age, 11 years. I noticed that when Sadie 
practised her singing-lesson she placed a certain paper doll 
on the music-rack. When she practised her instrumental 
pieces she placed a different doll there, and sometimes five or 
six dolls. I asked her about it, and she said she was giving 
singing-lessons to one doll and piano-lessons to another. 
When she placed all her dolls on the rack, she was giving a 
grand concert. For a week she did not take a lesson, and I 
asked her what had become of the doll she was giving singing- 
lessons to. She replied that she did not have time to give 
lessons now, and the doll went to Boston to take them. 

1090. Charlie. Age, 11 years. One rainy morning 
Charlie amused himself by building a barn. A newspaper 
made the floor, and drawing-books opened and placed on the 
edge formed the corners of the walls. By means of a book 
and 'a piece of pasteboard he divided it into three compart- 
ments, — a stall, where he placed a tin horse ; a wagon-shed, 
where he placed an old cigar-box ; and a carriage-house, where 
he arranged a row of horse-chestnuts. He finally spread a 
newspaper over it for a roof. 

1091. Maggie. Age, 11 years. When walking with 
Maggie this morning I observed that she held up her cloak as 
I did my dress. 

1092. Kate. Age, 11 years. One night I spoke of a 
gentleman who owns several houses. Kate said, " I play that 
I own all the houses about here, and that they are full of vis- 
itors ; but they are going away Sunday night, and then I shall 
close all the houses but the one I live in. A number came, 
and stayed during the music festival." She went on to say 
that she played her house was " fixed lovely ; " that there 
were draperies across the dining-room, and one side was filled 
with flowers and the other with beautiful pictures ; that the 
night before, when her mother had callers, she went into the 



212 IMITATION. 

room and made-believe they came to see her. I asked her 
how long she had played this ; and she replied, " Since last 
summer." This was in December. 

1093. Sadie. Age, 11 years. Four other girls and I 
formed a secret society, the L. S. I. C. Nobody but ourselves 
knew what the letters stood for. It was the Lexington Street 
Improvement Club. The purpose of it was to suppress the 
use of slang. We had a letter-box, and wrote to one another. 
Each took the name of a flower. Mine was Pansy. This is 
a sample of our way of writing : — 

Rdea Tviole, — Tdidn I og ot lschoo yyesterda ebecaus I 
swa ksic. Ddi uyo og ? Epleas ecom dan ese em nsoo. 
Kyou yver glovin dfrien, 

Ypans. 

We kept this up two or three months, holding meetings 
every two weeks. 

1094. Willie. Age, 11 years, 2 months. Willie spread 
the butter on his bread by drawing his knife across the bread 
as one would draw a razor across a strop to sharpen it. 

1095. Willie. Age, 11 years, 2 months. Willie played 
"cowboy," having a pair of rubber boots for cows, and a small 
rope for a lasso. Once when he tried to throw the rope over 
the boot the boot fell over. He said he had thrown the cow 
down. 

1096. Willie. Age, 11 years, 2 months. I was beating 
an egg, and Willie began to rap with a stick in time with me. 
When told to be quiet, he made the motions of striking in 
time. 

1097. Emma. Age, 11 years, 5 months. An amusement 
which particularly pleases Emma is furnishing her " house " 
with ends of picture-frames. The different rooms are differ- 
ent stairs. When I asked her what the different rooms were, 



GROUP X. 213 

she named a sitting-room, a third-best parlor, a second-best, 
and a very bestest. She said, " I let the sort o' poor people 
come into the sitting-room, the richer into the third-best par- 
lor, and the richest into the richest parlor ; but I don't let 
anybody come into my bestest." — " What do you do with 
your best parlor ? " I asked. " Oh ! I let the door stand open, 
and let the people look in to see what a nice room it is." 

1098. Frank. Age, 11 years, 6 months. When Frank 
was four or five years old he made a derrick, after seeing one 
used in constructing a sewer. When he was seven or eight 
he made a good dog-house. Two or three weeks ago the 
house in which he lived was moved, and he watched every- 
thing very carefully. A week later he raised and moved his 
father's hencoop. When asked about it, he said he wanted 
to try the men's tools. He has since helped a carpenter to 
lath several rooms of a house. 

1099. Ella. Age, 11 years, 7 months. Ella has been 
sick, and has seen no one but the family. I asked her if she 
had not wanted children to come in and play with her. She 
said, " No ; I had lots of fun, and was afraid I should be 
obliged to play with children. I had rather play alone. I 
had the most fun when I played it was Christmas, and I went 
to Boston to buy the presents. I got two silver pins, and had 
my maid do my hair in a number of ways, to see which I liked 
best. I did up two large books, a bundle of cloth, a box, and 
mother's satchel; took my sack, played my large doll was 
nurse, pinned my small doll to the other, put a robe around 
them, and played I started home with the presents. The bed 
was the car, and I took the pillows for seats." 

1100. Two Boys. Age, about 11 years. These boys Avere 
apparently playing " horse." They were running along the 
railroad track. The driver had a coal-shovel in his hand. 
When he struck the track with it, the horse ran faster. 



214 IMITATION. 

1101. Eddie. Age, 11 years, 8 months. In a storeroom 
at our house are a bedstead and two mattresses. Eddie goes to 
this room, turns up one of the mattresses so as to form a high 
seat, and puts a soap-box on it. He fastens a clothesline to 
the footboard ^n such a way that he has eight lengths. He 
has made a whip by tying a piece of rope to a stick, and tying 
a leather shoestring to the end of the rope. He piles soap- 
boxes, chairs, and books on the bed. He then takes his seat 
on the box, pulls on the ropes, and cries, " Whoa, Kate ! " 
" Whoa, Ned ! " These are the names of the horses on a 
stage that he has often seen. Occasionally he gets down, and 
loosens the ropes to give the horses a drink. At other times 
he calls "Leicester," or "Auburn." I have known him to 
play this for a whole afternoon. 



GROUP XI. 215 



GEO UP XL 

Ages between 12 and 16. 



1102. Nettie. Age, from 4 to 12 years. I had great 
pleasure in playing " tent," either alone or with my cousins 
when they came to visit me. "We sat up in bed after we 
woke in the morning, and spread the clothes over our heads. 
Each of us was some noted person, and we visited one an- 
other in our apartments. We coaxed our cats to be our 
children. 

1103. Jennie and Others. Age, from 4 to 12 years. 
For eight years, between the ages of four and twelve, I spent 
most of my school playtime in summer in " bower-houses." 
There were six or seven of these houses in a growth of young 
birches by the roadside. I bought one from an older girl for a 
set of jackstones, a box of marbles, and a knife. This was 
when I was about seven. All the girls played in these houses, 
and the boys carried their dinners there. The doors were 
ropes stretched from a tree on one side to a broken branch on 
the other, where it was fastened by a loop easily slipped on and 
off the branch. I think we never went under these. Sticks 
were driven into the earth at the back of each house, and 
ropes stretched from one to another, with bells attached to 
each end. This was the telephone. At first we had but one 
line, afterwards several. We had a post-office in a stone wall, 
whose existence was a secret known to eight of us. At differ- 
ent ages we had dolls, books, fashions, schools ; played " doc- 
tor," " minister," and " lawyer," and wrote a paper which was 
circulated in our bower village, and paid for with pins. I 



216 IMITATION. 

think I enjoyed the play as well when I left school at twelve 
as before. 

1104. Eliza. Age, from 5 to 12 years. Once when I 
asked my mother what I should play, she suggested that my 
sister and I might be tailoresses, and make men's clothes. 
We gathered plantain leaves, and with a small stiff twig or a 
thorn pricked as many holes in continuous lines as we con- 
veniently could between the veins of the leaves. We called 
this " making pants," and did it sitting " a la Turk." I think 
we imagined the holes to be stitches in the seams. My mother 
would sometimes order a large number of pairs, enough to keep 
us busy for a long time. I do not remember being tired of 
this, although we played it more than anything else. 

1105. Eltza. Age, from 5 to 10 or 12 years. I used to 
arrange all the kitchen chairs in a row, and play " school," 
imagining that the chairs had real occupants. I sat in a 
chair in front, and used a high-chair for a desk. I called the 
classes onto the floor, and asked and answered the questions. 
I enjoyed the play better if my brothers would act as pupils. 

1106. Boys. Age, from 6 to 12 years. All summer the 
boys of our neighborhood have been playing " circus " in a 
barn. Almost every weekday they have had one performance, 
and sometimes two. Frequently they have held a rehearsal in 
the morning and a performance in the afternoon, which they 
invited the small girls to attend. The performance consisted 
of bicycle races, trapeze exercises, foot-races, etc. Sometimes 
they acted a play, as, " Red Riding Hood." 

1107. Three Girls. Age, 6, 8, and 12 years. On Sun- 
day mornings we woke at the usual hour, but did not have to 
get up as early as on other mornings. We brought all the 
pillows and quilts to one bed, and played "house." A pillow 
doubled up made a chair, one pillow on another made a table, 
and the quilts made sofas, pianos, and bureaus. We kept 
this up for two summers. 



GROUP XL 217 

1108. Six Boys. Age, from 6 to 12 years. In our door- 
yard are two or three empty crockery crates. One day I saw 
live boys standing together in one part of the yard, and a 
smaller boy in a tree near the crates. Presently the boy in 
the tree shouted "Ding, ding!" four times. In an instant 
the other boys cried, " Box four ; City Hall ! " and ran to the 
empty crates. One boy took a clothesline, and fastened one 
end to a water faucet in the side of the house, and directed 
the other end to the crates. The other boys were pounding 
the crates with sticks, and screaming. I heard one boy say, 
" She'll get the best of us, Bill," though there was no boy of 
that name among them. Presently one boy went behind the 
crates, and got inside of one of them. Then the excitement 
increased. Somebody must go after him. There was a cry 
for a ladder, and a step-ladder was dragged from the barn. 
After much commotion the boy was released. This was re- 
peated many times, sometimes a false alarm being given. 

1109. Several Boys. Age, from 6 to 12 years. One 
boy put a piece of paper or a shaving under his hat to play 
he was a Chinaman. The other boys chased him, yelled at 
him, and caught at his clothes. He ran away from them, or 
pushed them away good-naturedly. When a rough boy took 
the part of Chinaman the others refused to play. 

1110. Sadie and Frank. Age, between 8 and 12 years. 
Sadie and Frank used to play what they called, " Lady Fash- 
ion." Sadie was " Lady Fashion," and was the author of the 
fashions of the town. Frank was an officer, and it was his 
duty to enforce the fashions proposed by "Lady Fashion." 
One fashion was that rings should be worn on the forefinger. 
They used to play that Frank was judge, and Sadie would 
act the part of candidates for the position of " Lady Fashion." 
The questions asked of the candidates by the judge were : 
" How old are you ? What is your name ? How long did 



218 IMITATION. 

you study to be ' Lady Fashion ' ? " Sometimes Sadie would 
play she was a very tall candidate, sometimes very short, 
sometimes young, sometimes old. The name of the candidate 
affected her success. When Sadie played she was a good 
candidate, she took a name that both she and Frank liked. 
Alice Coett was a favorite name. They played there was a 
family by the name of Myers who would not obey the fash- 
ions. Frank as constable, and Sadie as " Lady Fashion," 
would go to them to make them obey the fashions. They 
would put on gruff voices to represent the members of the 
family ; and the family, still persisting in disobedience, were 
put into jail. This was played in various forms for weeks, 
and I think for months. 

1111. Joseph, Albert, and Others. Age, 8, 10, and 12 
years. These boys play "Indian." They have a tent, and 
wear leather leggings fringed down the outside, gaudy-colored 
horse-blankets on their shoulders, and cocks' feathers in their 
caps. Some of them carry light muskets, others popguns, 
while the smaller ones have only sticks for weapons. I have 
seen them marching in one long line, pounding an old boiler* 
and sometimes beating a drum. 

1112. Margaret and Anna. Age, 8 and 12 years. We 
used to play we were birds. We climbed as high as we could 
in the trees, and then sang and whistled. 

1113. Annie. Age, between 8 and 12 years. Until I 
was about twelve years old I had never had a cough. I 
wanted to have one, to cough loud and be pitied. When 
I was perhaps nine years old I sometimes lay in the snow 
to try to catch cold. 

1114. Many Boys. Age, from 8 to 12 years. The boys 
of the neighborhood had a torchlight procession. Two car- 
ried torches, one played some sort of a musical instrument, 
and the rest shouted : — 



GEO UP XL 219 

"Zip, boom, bah! 
Zip, boom, rah! 
Cleveland, Cleveland! 
Kah, rah, rah!" 

1115. Several Children. Age, from 8 to 12 years. 
About fifteen children in our neighborhood have been march- 
ing in processions lately. They beat tin pans for drums, and 
sing : — 

" We are marching in the light, 
We are marching in the light, 
We are marching in the glorious light of the Lord." 

It seemed to me they were mimicking the Salvation Army. 

1116. Catharine and Mart. Age, 8 and 12 years. My 
sister and I used to play we were nuns, and dress ourselves as 
much like them as we could. 

1117. Eliza. Age, from 8 to 12 years. After seeing 
several persons walking on crutches I wanted to know how 
it would seem ; and as I had no crutches I used brooms, the 
broom part under my arm. I did this so much that my 
mother forbade it ; but it was so fascinating that I disobeyed 
her when she did not see me. I also walked with a limp 
until she forbade me. 

1118. Several Girls. Age, from 9 to 12 years. Several 
girls were seated on a rock by the roadside. I overheaixl this 
conversation : " You must come and buy some chocolate drops 
of me." — "I'm not going to spend all my money for candy." 

1119. Several Girls. Age, from 9 to 12 years. A 
favorite pastime of ours was to imitate the slaughtering of 
pigs, which we had often seen. We stretched one another on 
the floor, and aimed a large knife at the throat. After the 
stabbing we pretended to rip up the body through the centre. 

1120. Several Boys. Age, 9 to 12 years. Eight boys 
had a torchlight procession. One had a drum, and one a fife. 



220 IMITA TION. 

The leader had a stick, which he kept turning as fast as he 
could. Two boys followed with some kind of a light at the 
end of a long pole, and one boy with a flag. There seemed to 
be two companies, for these last three had a leader of their 
own. They stopped under a gaslight, and marked time, 
changing the positions of the torches, etc. 

1121. Sara. Age, 9 to 12 years. I used dominoes, face 
doAvnward, for boats. A pin stuck through a strip of paper 
made a mast and sail. Sometimes I made a pennant by 
sticking a pin through a smaller piece of paper, and sticking 
the pin in the back end of the boat. The name of each boat 
was on the sail. 

1122. Five Boys. Age, 9 to 12 years. About nine o'clock 
in the evening I saw five boys marching in the middle of the 
street. One had a tin whistle, one a harmonica, and another 
a drum. Each of the other two had a pointed stick about 
four feet long. The boys with instruments were playing a 
familiar air, to which all marched in good time. The boys 
with sticks were in advance of the others, and turned about 
now and then and threw up their sticks, as drum-majors do. 
They did not seem to be aware of persons on the sidewalk. 

1123. Josie and Others. Age, 9 to 12 years. When- 
ever we had a new doll we baptized it. When new ones failed, 
we baptized the old ones over again. We also married our 
dolls, placing a lady doll in her best clothes kneeling beside 
a doll dressed in gentleman's clothes. Why we made them 
kneel I do not know. We played " Confirmation," going 
through the ceremony as the bishop did, excepting the blow 
on the cheek, which we had not noticed. 

1124. Patrick and Others. Age, 7 to 12 years. The 
two older boys were policemen, and 'the two younger were to 
play that they were drunk. The younger ones went a little 
distance apart, and the policemen followed with hands behind 



GROUP XI. 221 

them. Each policeman seized a drunken man, and led him to 
the lockup (a certain place agreed upon), where the examina- 
tion took place. 

Policeman. What are you in here for ? 

First Drunkard. For being drunk. 

Policeman. What offence ? 

First Drunkard. First offence. 

Policeman. You can go. 

Policeman (to Second Drunkard?). What are you in here for ? 

Second Drunkard. For being drunk. 

Policeman. What offence ? 

Second Drunkard. Third offence. 

Policeman. You'll have a year at Concord. 

This has been repeated a great many times. 

1125. Unknown. Age, 8 to 12 years. These children 
were having a Columbian celebration. One boy was dressed 
in a shabby white lace skirt, a loose sack, a silver-paper cap 
with long streamers, and large slippers with white rags hang- 
ing from the heels. He was sitting in a wagon made of a 
soap-box, mounted on two wheels of a baby-carriage. The 
box was covered with silver paper. 

1126. Unknown. Age, about 9 to 12 years. I saw four 
boys playing in some sand which had been thrown into the 
gutter. They had made a mound perhaps fourteen inches 
high, with a hole in the top three or four inches deep and 
large enough to admit two fingers. I heard one of them say 
something about a ballcano. Two others laughed, and re- 
peated the word several times, each repetition being accom- 
panied by a peal of laughter. A fourth boy laughed, though 
I thought he did not know what he was laughing at. Pres- 
ently one said, " 'Tain't ballcano at all ; it's volcano." 

1127. Boys. Age, 10 to 12 years. I saw a group of 
boys, as many as twenty-five, I think, forming a procession. 



222 IMITATION. 

When they at last got in order, a drum-major walked in front, 
swinging a small stick. Next came the band, consisting of 
one boy with a drum, and two with horns. The soldiers fol- 
lowed in ranks of four. Several had sticks for guns. When 
the command to shoulder arms was given, those who had no 
guns put their own arms on others' shoulders. They marched 
quietly under the Bepublican flag, but under the Democratic 
flag they gave three cheers. 

1128. Boys. Age, from 10 to 12 years. About eight 
o'clock one evening I saw a procession of perhaps fourteen 
boys marching in the street in single file. Their trousers 
were rolled up as high as possible. They marched quietly. 

1129. Nellie. Age, about 12 years. One morning my 
teacher used a piece of ribbon to wind around her dress-sleeve 
while she put on her sack. In the afternoon I took a string 
to school for the same purpose, and four or five of my school- 
mates did the same. 

1130. Many Children. Age, 10 to 14 years. Pictures 
representing Indian life were drawn on the blackboard. I 
found copies of them on thirty slates. There are fifty pupils 
in the room. Nothing was said about copying the pictures. 

1131. Unknown. Age, about 12 years. I saw a boy 
stand on the sidewalk, and imitate the singing of an unseen 
man. A dog ran into the street and barked, and the boy imi- 
tated the barking. 

1132. Several Boys. Age, 6 to 12 years. Yesterday 
there was a fire in our town. To-day I saw three boys rush 
up to a hydrant, dragging a pair of wheels, and unwind some 
rope from some part of the vehicle. The rope was fastened 
to the hydrant, more rope was brought, and the pieces tied 
together until it reached across the street, through a school- 
yard, and to the schoolhouse. Before this time other boys 



GROUP XL 223 

had arrived. One made vigorous pretence of turning around 
the top of the hydrant as if letting on the water. Pretty 
soon the end of the rope was moved from the schoolhouse to 
a barn ; and I thought one of the boys pretended to be chop- 
ping away the roof, which he could reach by standing on the 
fence. They soon moved on to another part of the fence. 
The rope was unfastened from the hydrant, and taken to the 
pump in the schoolyard. A boy pumped very hard, and called 
another boy to relieve him. I do not think they got any 
water. After a while I saw the rope in a wagon drawn by 
two or three boys in single file, and the pair of wheels, drawn 
by a small boy, followed. 

1133. Several Boys. Age, 10 to 12 years. Two of these 
boys were horses, two the police ambulance, one a policeman, 
aud another a drunken man. One said, " Hurry up ! That 
ain't the way for police horses to stop. This man is pretty 
drunk, and it's hard to hold him." 

1134. Emma. Age, 12 years. Louis. Age, 11 years. 
A canary bird belonging to the children died. Louis shaped 
a headstone from a broken slate, and wrote the bird's name 
and the date upon it. The bird was placed in a box amid 
leaves and flowers, and carried in a toy wagon, during a heavy 
shower of rain, to the burial. The grave was rounded up, and 
the headstone set. Every day for a month, I think, they 
carried flowers to the grave. 

1135. Anna. Age, 12 years. I and my brothers and 
several other children used to form partnerships. While we 
were in partnership we had a right to claim each other's play- 
things and pets. My cousin and I were partners most of the 
time, but every two or three weeks we disagreed about some- 
thing and dissolved. We then each took a new partner ; but 
pretty soon either he wanted something of mine, or I wanted 
something of his, and we made a new arrangement. These 



224 IMITATION. 

changes kept the play from becoming monotonous, and we 
continued it for some months. 

1136. Several Boys. Age, 10 to 12 years. I saw a 
number of boys playing in a court between two houses. All 
had " guns." One standing behind a bush fired at the other 
boys, who were grouped together. Each time he fired he said, 
" Bang ! " I saw one of the group totter as he fired. Those 
not firing were pretending to load their guns. 

1137. Several Boys. Age, 10 or 12 years. One even- 
ing after a fire-alarm had rung, I saw eight or ten boys, ar- 
ranged four or five on each side of a long pole, running as if 
to a fire. 

1138. Dannie. Age, 12 (?) years. At a circus a man 
went up in a balloon, and descended with a parachute. A few 
days after I heard shouting, and looking out saw Dannie on 
the fence with a broken umbrella open. Afterwards I asked 
one of the boys what Dannie was doing with the umbrella, and 
was told that he was playing circus-man coming from a bal- 
loon. 

1139. Minnie. Age, about 12 years. When I was about 
eleven or twelve years old I wanted to go on a journey be- 
cause I liked to "pack." I hardly ever went away for a visit 
that required much packing, so I played that I did. I got an 
old valise from the garret, and filled it with things I thought 
I should need. I put in a diary that belonged to my sister, 
because I thought I should want to keep a journal while I was 
gone. I also put in a Bible. 

1140. Several Children. Age, 8 to 12 years. We took 
great pleasure in riding horseback. We sat on the partition 
between the stalls in the barn, and put the reins around a post. 
We played we were travelling, and I think my brother had to 
do some fighting to get us to the end of our journey. When 



GROUP XL 225 

children came to visit us we usually played this first of all. 
Sometimes we continued it for an hour or more. 

1141. Boys. Age, 10 to 12 years. I saw a procession 
consisting of one boy on a velocipede, two boys on a sled at- 
tached to the velocipede, and one boy in a cart made of a box 
mounted on velocipede wheels. One of the boys on the sled 
was holding a rope attached to the cart. 

1142. Grace. Age, 10 to 12 years. I often used spools 
for dolls. I liked a variety of sizes. Sometimes I dressed 
them, and sometimes not. Sometimes I put on rag heads, and 
drove in nails for arms. In such cases I dressed them. 

1143. Sara. Age, 10 or 12 years. When I had read 
"Four Girls at Chautauqua," I reread it in parts, playing it 
with dominoes as I went along. I played one other story, and 
had several plays based on stories that I had read. 

1144. Boys. Age, 10 to 12 years. Ten boys built a snow 
fort in our dooryard. They spent about forty hours on it, 
and when completed it was fifteen feet high, and about four 
feet thick at the bottom. It had a secret door concealed by 
an immense snowball. No one could enter without the pass- 
word. When it was finished, the boys of the neighborhood 
were invited to come and storm it. Ten boys were within, and 
twenty without. Boards had been built into the walls in two 
places for the protection of the garrison, in case the storming- 
party was too strong. One night my mother counted seventy 
boys who had come to see it from different parts of the town. 

1145. Edward. Age, 10 years. Allex. Age, 12 years. 
Edward said, " Let's make-believe we are making bread." 
On looking, I saw a pillow lying on a wide board, and the boys 
kneading it vigorously. One of them said, " This is the way 
they do at Hagar's " [bakery]. Afterwards they made mo- 
lasses candy, using the pilloAV in the same way. 



226 IMITATION. 

1146. Boys. Age, 10 or 12 years. Two boys built a 
snow fort in the yard behind our bouse. It was circular in 
shape, about six feet in diameter, and four feet high. The 
walls were made of blocks of snow, shaped in a box. Two 
shelves were set in the inside of the front wall. A store of 
snowballs was kept on these shelves. A kind of tunnel was cut 
through the wall on one. side, and in the opposite side was a 
doorway. Leo said if they were attacked, and could not es- 
cape by one opening, they could by the other. The wall was 
highest in front, and here the flagstaff was placed. Two other 
boys built another fort about sixty feet from this. Warfare 
Avas carried on between the two, the object of which was to 
knock down the flagstaff. 

1147. Girls. Age, 10 to 12 years. We often played 
" school " when the only thing we did was to beat a bank of 
earth which we called our bad boys. One of the girls called 
her bad boy by the name of a boy in her school whom she 
disliked. 

1148. Boys. Age, — years. The boys of our neighbor- 
hood are making jack-o'-lanterns. Some are made of cigar- 
boxes, others of pasteboard boxes. A face is cut in the cover 
of the box, and a candle is placed inside. A string is fastened 
to the end of the box to carry it by. My brother made a 
lantern out of a large horse-chestnut by scooping out the 
inside, and cutting a face in the shell. 

1149. Unknown. Age, 11 or 12 years. I saw a boy 
giving a dog a ride. The dog sat in a large basket on a sled, 
and the boy ran behind and pushed. 

1150. Boys. Age, about 12 years. A very large and hard 
snowball had been made. Into this, on opposite sides, two 
boys had thrust the points of their sleds so that the sleds 
stood out horizontally. The boys sat on the sleds, and the 
rolling back and forth of the ball made a seesaw. 



GROUP XL 227 

1151. Unknown". Age, about 12 years. This boy, who 
was in an electric-car, made no movement to pay his fare 
until the conductor came in front of him. He then put his 
hand in his pocket, and drew out a handful of money. With 
the forefinger of his left hand he pushed the pieces of money 
about until he had counted out five cents, which he gave to 
the conductor. 

1152. Anna. Age, — years. One day I saw a woman 
sitting at the window of the house making movements that I 
thought were those of sewing, but I was not sure. I watched 
her for a long time occasionally putting out her hand to the 
window-sill as if to pick up or lay down something. A few 
days later I sat by the window and pretended to sew, and 
pick up and lay down something. I thought if any one 
passed they would not be able to tell whether I was sewing 
or not. 

1153. Grace. Age, 12 years. Two other girls and I used 
to hold " shows." We prepared a programme consisting of 
dialogues, tableaux, and at one time a short play, which we 
found in an old magazine. These theatricals were held in a 
barn which had two mows, facing each other, with a wide 
space between. One of these was the stage, the other the 
audience-room. We had small squares of pasteboard for 
tickets, and the admission was one cent. One afternoon we 
received twelve cents, which we considered a large sum. We 
wrote out the programme in imitation of playbills that we 
had seen. 

1154. Five Children. Age, 12 years. These children 
play "house" under the roof of an abandoned engine-cab. 
There is a hole about two feet square in the roof, which they 
call the front door. There are two boys and three girls. 
Each boy is the husband of a girl, and the third girl is the 



228 IMITATION. 

daughter of one couple. I heard one girl say to another, 
" When you come to see me you must rap at my front door." 

1155. Sadie. Age, 12 years. When any children came 
to visit Sadie, she was very likely to ask them to play 
" school." In the summer vacation she arranged one end of 
the barn for a schoolroom, aud went about the neighborhood 
inviting the children to come to her school. One lady told 
her she would give her twenty-five cents if she would teach 
her little girl the letters. This increased her eagerness to 
have a school. She taught this school as long as the children 
came, but this was only a little more than a week. 

1156. Abbie. Age, 12 years. Mary and I gave an enter- 
tainment in the attic of Mary's house. About ten children 
took part in it. We taught them songs and pieces to speak, 
and had a May queen. The admission fee was one cent. 

1157. Anna. Age, 12 years. Anna gets a part of her 
missionary money by selling copies of the photograph of her 
cat. They cost her twenty-five cents a dozen, and she sells 
them for five cents apiece. It was her own idea. 

1158. Maggie. Age, 12 years. I used to take the seat 
out of a small express wagon and kneel in it, making-believe 
I was a circus girl. I had seen girls riding in chariots at a 
circus. Only a small part of their bodies could be seen, and 
when I knelt in the wagon only a part of my body could be 
seen. 

1159. Nancy. Age, 12 years, 4 months. One day Nancy 
got very angry at being made to do something she did not 
wish to do. She stamped her foot, and said, " papa ! I'm 
so mad you don't know what I'd do if I was bigger ! " 

1160. Carl. Age, 12 years, 8 months. This is the story 
Carl told me after he had been initiated into the North End 
Club : First his face was covered with lard. This was scraped 



GROUP XL 229 

off with a knife. Then his face was covered with molasses, 
and two other boys threw flour all over him. This was 
scraped off with a knife. Lastly his face was covered with 
mucilage, and cotton stuck on it. Then he rolled up his sleeve, 
and a piece of ice was put on the vaccination scar. If he 
flinched at this, he was not admitted to the club. He did 
not ; so he was taken into the club-room with the cotton on 
his face and his sleeve rolled up, that the other boys might 
see him. 

1161. Three Boys. Age, 12 years. These boys were 
marching in the street drumming on tomato-cans with sticks. 
The leader was performing like a drum-major. 

1162. Several Boys. Age, 6 to 13 years. These boys 
saw the " Field Sports " of the Technical and High Schools. 
They have formed a club called the Worcester Sporting Asso- 
ciation. They are very private about it, and speak of it only 
as the W. S. A. It was some time before I could induce one 
of them to tell me what the letters stood for. They seem to 
be most interested in the tug-of-war. They marked off the 
ground for it, and drove in stakes. The leaders chose sides. 
The leaders do not take part in the pulling, but spend all 
their energy in swinging their hats to urge on their own side, 
crying, " Heave her now ! " and using other expressions that 
they heard at the Sports. At first they started each contest 
by a toy pistol, but gave it up because it did not make noise 
enough, and used a horn. 

1163. Several Boys. Age, 6 to 13 years. These boys 
were marching in the road. They all wore paper caps trimmed 
with artificial flowers. The caps they usually wear were 
attached to the backs of their coats. The leader and most of 
the privates carried long sticks ; one or two had air-rifles. 
Behind the leader a small boy beat a drum. The lieutenants 
were on either side of the procession, giving orders. They 



230 IMITATION. 

met a wagon ; and the lieutenant screamed through his par- 
tially closed hand, " To the right ! " whereupon the soldiers 
straggled into the gutter. The leader told me this was the 
" Grand Army." 

1164. Mary. Age, 6 years. Sadie. Age, 11 years. 
Anna. Age, 13 years. I and my cousins liked very much 
to dress up in old-fashioned clothes. Most of them fitted 
Anna and me fairly well, but all were too large for Mary. 
Usually she had to be either page or lady's maid. My favor- 
ite dress was a black brocade, which swept the floor two or 
three inches in front, and was slightly longer in the back. 
We pinned up our hair, which we Avore braided, sometimes 
with hairpins, but usually with slate-pencils. 

1165. Margaret. Age, 7 years. Mary. Age, 13 years. 
Margaret and I were very fond of dressing ourselves like 
nuns. 

1166. Arthur. Age, 7 years. Isa. Age, 13 years. 
These children stretched a string across two rooms high 
enough to walk under. Each had a stick with a spool fas- 
tened to the end of it. They held this up, with the spool in 
contact with the string, and ran the length of the string. 
This they called "electric-cars." They made a turnout 
where they passed each other. 

1167. Harriet. Age, 7 years. Julia. Age, 10 years. 
Anna. Age, 14 years. These children often go to the thea- 
tre, and often act the plays they see there. They dress as 
much like the actors as they can, and use many expressions 
that they hear. After seeing " Uncle Tom's Cabin," they 
played it, Anna being Uncle Tom, and wearing her father's 
clothes. 

1168. Flora. Age, 8 to 15 years. Our favorite place 
for playing " house " was my uncle's barn. Each of us pre- 
tended to be a rich middle-aged woman, whose husband was a 



GROUP XL 281 

sea-captain and rarely at home. Each had a family of ima- 
ginary children. My oldest daughter, Beatrice, was sixteen, 
and had black hair and eyes. Violet had golden hair and 
blue eyes, and a pink-and- white skin. She had musical tastes. 
Nan was eight, and resembled " Jo " in Miss Alcott's " Little 
Women." Roy, a boy of four, was very precocious. The 
beams and scaffolds were streets, and the stalls, the neighbor's 
houses. We planned parties, picnics, and excursions, enter- 
tained much company, and went to Europe to buy clothing 
for the children. My sister and I played this when we were 
fifteen, but we were private about it. 

1169. Jane. Age, 8 years. Ellen. Age, 11 years. 
Carrie. Age, 13 years. When the fruit of the milkweed 
was ripe this summer, these girls gathered a large quantity 
of it. They then played " butcher." When they killed a pig, 
they ran a knife into the small end of the pod. This they 
called "sticking." When they killed an ox or a calf, they 
placed a pod upright on the end, and knocked it down with a 
hatchet. They then took off the hide, and separated the in- 
side into parts which they called steak, pork, etc. Sometimes 
they called the inside fish. They made wooden hooks of three 
sizes, with which they moved the meat about. They had 
small pieces of cotton cloth for towels, which they hung to dry 
on a string stretched from one branch of a tree to another, and 
fastened them there by clothespins of their own manufacture. 
They carried the meat about to sell in a small wagon. Jane's 
father is a butcher, and has a slaughter-house on his farm. 

1170. Cora and Others. Age, 8 to 13 years. When it 
was good coasting, we fastened our sleds together and called 
them a railroad. The girl on the first sled was engineer, the 
one on the last sled a brakeman, and the rest passengers. 

1171. Sadie. Age, 9 to 13 years. I continued to play 
with paper dolls Until I was laughed at and made ashamed. 



232 IMITATION. 

Even then I played when I could do so without being ob- 
served. I cut the figures from fashion-plates, and pasted 
them on heavy brown paper, so they would stand up, leaning 
against something. Each doll had her name and age written 
on the back. Sometimes one doll had two or three names, be- 
cause she figured in two or three different plays. Sometimes 
the same name was given to two or three different dolls, 
because I wanted the doll bearing the name to appear in dif- 
ferent costumes at different times. The plays were quite 
elaborate. One was a young ladies' boarding-school. I think 
I selected this because I had but two or three figures of 
men. 

1172. Henry. Age, 9 years. Edwin. Age, 13 years. 
Henry and Edwin killed three English sparrows with an air- 
gun. They dressed them, and left them in the kitchen, pro- 
posing to fry them for supper. They carried a wide board 
under the piazza, and supported it horizontally, about six 
inches above the ground, for a table. They carried out knives, 
forks, plates, and tumblers, a dish of doughnuts, cookies, and 
raisins, some apples, and a dipper of water. When they came 
to the kitchen to cook the sparrows, they found that they had 
been thrown away. They ate their supper under the piazza, 
however, though it was so low that they had to stoop or go on 
their hands and knees to get under it. 

1173. Mabel. Age, 10 years. Frank. Age, 13 years. 
Each of these children was sitting on a box, and had a chair 
in front. It was raining, and each held an open umbrella. 
He ins were attached to the chairs, and Frank made the mo- 
tions of driving ; Mabel did not. Behind Mabel was a box in 
which and on which were dishes. I heard Frank ask for two 
plates of vanilla ice-cream. Mabel took a dish from the box, 
went to a tree where she had more dishes, and brought back 
the dish to Frank. They heard the noise of a train of cars 



GROUP J J. 233 

passing. Mabel jumped up, and, taking hold of the chair in 
front of her, said her horse was frightened. Frank pulled up 
the reins he held. Later Frank asked for chocolate cake. 
Mabel said she was very sorry, but she had none. I could 
not hear all they said, but I heard " White Mountains " fre- 
quently. 

1174. Cora. Age, 12 or 13 years. Mart. Age, 9 or 10 
years. We played "meeting" and "Sunday-school" sitting 
on a sofa with a chair in front of us to hold the book from 
which we sang. One book from which we sang was a cir- 
cus advertisement in book form. We sang the same words, 
but to no particular tune. At Sunday-school we were both 
teachers ; our pupils were the rounds in the back of the chair. 
We asked questions, and did a great deal of explaining. 

1175. Many Boys. Age, about 12 and 13 years. I think 
there were fifty or seventy-five boys in a procession to cele- 
brate the election of Harrison. One marched in front swing- 
ing a club about three feet long. Behind him came a boy 
carrying a drum, and another boy beating it. Nearly all 
carried lanterns, aud there were two flags. They marched 
in ranks of four, and stopped at the head of every street to 
give three cheers. 

1176. Gertrude. Age, 12 or 13 years. One of my 
friends and I used to fasten gossamer cloaks or shawls to our 
heads to represent long hair. We played it was false hair, 
but that people who knew us thought it was our own. We 
were great concert singers and players. Sometimes the hair 
fell off during the concert, and then we fainted away and 
made a great noise. We made up the music as we sang ; and, 
as there was usually no piano in the room where we played, 
we drummed on a bureau or other article of furniture. We 
sang very loud. I sometimes tried to play this with other 
girls, but it never was successful. 



234 IMITATION. 

1177. Girls. Age, 12 and 13 years. In the school where 
I am teaching, the girls have formed two clubs. The members 
of the club first formed wear fancy aprons to school. The 
second club, formed a little later, took the name of the Good- 
will Club. The members wear a small bell fastened to a 
buttonhole, and a white necktie. 

1178. Unknown. Age, about 13 years. I saw a boy 
sliding down hill on some barrel staves that he had tied to 
his feet. He carried in his hand a long pole, which he used 
to steer with, and to push himself along. 

1179. Mary and Others. Age, about 13 years. The girls 
of our neighborhood formed a club at which we read stories 
of our own writing. I made a list of words and phrases 
that I found in books to use in the stories that I wrote. Some 
of these were, " replied she," " meditating," " rising slowly," 
" ' Alas ! ' cried she, ' I am lost ! ' " The one that delighted 
me most, and which I used to write in every story for a long 
time, was, " She arose, and haughtily walked from the room." 

1180. Jimmie. Age, 13 years. Jimmie had his face 
blacked, and curls of shavings hung under his hat. A girl 
about his own age made-believe she was frightened, and ran 
away from him. 

1181. Cora. Age, 15 years. Estine. Age, 12 years. 

Mr. T brought home some putty. The girls asked for 

some, and received it. The next day Mr. T went to their 

playroom, and saw bread, cakes, doughnuts, and pies made of 
putty. The table was spread; and all the dolls, sixteen or 
more, were sitting at it. The girls were serving tea in the 
character of servants. 

1182. Cora. Age, 13 years. Estine. Age, 11 years. 
These girls broke some ice out of a boiler, and certain pieces 
were curved and had a toothed edge. They at once held 
them up to their faces, and said they had false teeth. 



GROUP XL 235 

1183. Philip. Age, 13 years. Philip had two pulleys 
which he arranged in various positions. At one time they 
were an engine, and at another the moon going around the 
sun. 

1184. Fanny. Age, — years. We had four cats, and I 
conceived the idea of having a menagerie. For cages I had 
salt-boxes of different sizes, across the tops of which I nailed 
slats of wood. I wanted wheels, but could not make them 
myself, and would not ask my brother, because I was afraid 
he would laugh at me, and very likely upset my cages. One 
of the cats was of three colors ; and I had always called her 
the money-cat, because I had heard it said that a family that 
had a three-colored cat would have money. For two reasons 
I determined to have the money-cat for a tiger : first, a tiger 
was part yellow; second, the cat was not fond of children, 
and would be likely to run away. A gray kitten was the 
elephant, and a black one the bear. I made a ring by placing 
sticks in a circle, and had each animal perform in it. One 
day the tiger ran away, and I could not catch it. It seemed 
especially dangerous to have the tiger get away, because it 
was more savage than the other animals. I could not play this 
as much as I wanted to, because the cats learned to avoid me. 

1185. A School. Age, about 5 to 14 years. I told the 
children in my school that they might have a bonfire. They 
drew the brush and wood to a sand-pit, the small boys being 
horses, and the large boys drivers. It blazed high, and the 
children became more and more excited. Suddenly some one 
said, " Now, boys, let's dance." They joined hands in a large 
circle, and shouted at the top of their voices. Perhaps I 
should say they yelled. I could think of nothing but wild 
Indians. 

1186. Many Boys. Age, — years. Since the Carnival in 
Montreal the boys of my school (Burlington, Vt.) have talked 



236 IMITATION. 

of little else than toboggans. They draw them on their slates 
and on the blackboard, and make them out of paper. They 
have a coasting-club, and it is funny to see them " bounce " 
or toss the smaller boys in imitation of the Montreal Snow- 
shoe Club. All who belong to the club wear badges, most of 
them little tin toboggans, but some of them elaborate and quite 
pretty. One boy made one on which he copied the monogram 
of the real coasting-club of Burlington, and several boys made 
theirs like it. 

1187. Several Girls. Age, 12 or 13 years. The favorite 
play in the spring and fall terms at the school where I went 
was building stone houses, We built them in a grassy field. 
They were spaces enclosed by lines of small stones, and di- 
vided in the same way into rooms. The furniture consisted 
of larger stones, as large sometimes as we could lift. When 
a quarrel arose, one party would carry her stones to another 
place, and rebuild her house. Usually one of the larger girls 
was mother, and the others were children. We tired of this 
play, but returned to it again and again for, I think, two or 
three years. The pleasure consisted more in building the 
house than in playing in it. I have often, when riding, 
looked enviously at nice stones for this purpose in a wall. 

1188. Hattie. Age, 12 or 13 years. On rainy days I 
liked to play stage-coach. I arranged chairs to represent 
seats, and larger chairs for horses, of which I sometimes had 
six. Each horse was named. Dolls were the passengers. 

1189. Several Children. Age, 3 to 14 years. A fa- 
vorite game in our family was "hospital." Chairs, stools, 
crickets, and even the floor, served as beds. One of us was 
doctor, the rest were sick. We had broken arms and legs, 
sore eyes, pistol wounds, seasickness, and insanity. The 
favorite ailments were seasickness and insanity. When we 
were seasick we called for water, took a mouthful, held it as 



GROUP XL 237 

long as we could, and then threw it up. I think we played 
this at intervals for several years. 

1190. Several Boys. Age, 9 to 14 years. I asked a 
boy how they happened to play " Salvation Army." He said, 
a One of the boys turned his hat inside out, and it had a blue 
lining. Then I turned mine, and it had a red lining. This 
made us think of the Salvation Army." When I saw them, 
not only their hats but their coats were turned inside out, 
and the tops of their boots were turned down, showing the 
colored lining. One day when they were playing this they 
changed into a fire-company, but without any change in dress. 

1191. Catharine. Age, 13 years. When we played 
"house," I used to bend over so as to appear humpbacked. 

1192. Many Boys. Age, about 13 } r ears. These boys 
frequently have " shows " on Wednesday and Saturday after- 
noons. The last one was an exhibition of pictures by a magic 
lantern. The entertainment often consists of songs, dialogues, 
and playing on a harmonica. The actors wear old clothes. 
They have tickets of admission, for which they ask a certain 
number of pins. 

1193. Many Boys. Age, 5 to 14 years. The boys of 
our neighborhood have made a race-track in a court. They 
have drawn a chalk-line on the ground enclosing an oval 
space, and written within it, " 50 times round makes a 
mile." They run around outside of the line as fast and as 
long as they can, calling out the number of times they have 
been around. One boy about six years old called out " fifty- 
seven." He had fallen on the ice, and his face was scratched 
and bleeding, but he was still running. One boy had been 
running for about ten minutes when I stopped watching them. 
I have seen three or four of them within the ring acting as 
ring-masters, and so excited that they could scarcely contain 
themselves. 



238 IMITATION. 

1194. Boys. Age, 6 to 14 years. I saw seven boys play- 
ing that they had been arrested, and were being tried before 
the court. They were sitting on a step, and two boys were 
standing in front of them as judges. One prisoner was 
brought in as I passed. I heard the boys say, " You must be 
drunk." 

1195. Florence. Age, 10 to 14 years. Our way of play- 
ing "house" was to place books upright on a table. The 
house had several rooms, but never more than one story. We 
used marbles for people, always selecting one to represent 
"myself." With long pencils we moved the marbles from 
room to room. We used dominoes for carriages, the conve- 
nience being that the marbles could be made to rest on the 
spots. We visited, married, went to ride, etc. This some- 
times entertained us an entire afternoon. 

1196. Carrie. Age, 11 years. Emma. Age, 14 years. 
These children have one-half of a large attic for a playroom. 
They have seventeen dolls, — male, female, rich, poor, negro, 
Indian, good, and bad. On Saturday afternoons for the last 
six weeks they have given entertainments, using the other 
half of the attic for the audience-room. They invite the 
neighbors' children for an audience. The admission fee is 
twenty-five pins. They have presented parts of several ope- 
rettas, and given one miscellaneous concert. Last winter they 
took part in operettas that were given in public. For musi- 
cal instruments they have a harmonica, an accordeon, and a 
music-box. They dress in clothes belonging to my brothers 
and my mother. My mother is the only member of the 
family who is notified of the performance. She always re- 
ceives a complimentary ticket. 

1197. Emma. Age, 11 years. Nancy. Age, 15 years. 
These girls have a post-office in a stone wall, and send two 
letters a day. The older one calls herself duke of some 



GROUP XL 239 

place in Germany, the younger one duchess of some place in 
France. They have looked in histories, geographies, and 
other books for names of castles, abbeys, etc., and pretend 
they own all these, and visit them at different times in the 
year. I saw a letter written by the duchess. Some of the 
sentences were studied, like this: " It would afford me pleas- 
ure to see you at my castle ; come and we will have fun." 

1198. George and Others. Age, 12 to 15 years. My 
brother and several other boys formed a boat-club. They 
held meetings, and chose officers (I think every member held 
an office), and adopted rules. They adopted the name of 
Athletic Boat Club, and called themselves the A. B. C's. My 
brother was treasurer, and told me about the club because be 
wanted me to inquire about a boat that was for sale. When 
I inquired, the boat was already sold, and I never knew of 
their making inquiries about any other. At any rate, they 
never bought one, but for a short time made use of a raft. 
After a very short time I heard no more of the club. 

1199. School Children. Age, 10 to 15 years. During 
one term at a district school the boys made " houses " in the 
woods near the schoolhouse. Four trees were selected for the 
corners, and the underbrush cleared from the space between 
them. Poles were cut, and nailed to the corner trees, other 
poles were laid on these, and the whole covered with brush. 
One building, about fifteen feet square, was the hotel ; and we 
paid two pins for the privilege of eating our dinner there. 
Seats were made around the inside of it by placing poles on 
forked sticks stuck in the ground. A bowling-alley was built, 
and furnished with a swinging ball and pins by one of the 
older boys. Several children owned stores. These were some- 
times nothing but a board or a box between two trees. My 
sister and I were clerks for a firm of two boys. We sold 
advertisement cards, pears, plums, apples, little trinkets, and 



240 IMITATION. 

paper dolls made by the teacher, and given to us for the pur- 
pose. One house was dark, and the boys made Jack-o'-lanterns 
to light it. This play lasted only one term. 

1200. Many Children. Age, 6 to 16 years. The chil- 
dren who coast in the street near my house place one boy to 
warn them when vehicles are coming. He usually carries a 
stick, and is always called policeman. 

1201. — . Age, — years. My mother has told me that 
she and her brothers used to play "plough," using pine 
boughs for oxen, for which the boys made yokes, and pointed 
sticks for ploughs. One child drew the pine boughs along, and 
another held the pointed stick. Red and yellow willow twigs 
were their horses, and blueberry bushes their cows. Pine 
cones were sheep, the smaller ones being lambs. They used 
beet-leaves for pigs, because when they killed them the red 
juice looked like blood. 

1202. A School. Age, from 7 to 16 years. One morning 
I found all the schoolroom blinds closed, and the children 
marching around the room in a procession. A tall girl of six- 
teen headed the procession, and a small girl of seven brought 
up the rear. Two girls at the head carried sticks ; and all 
were stamping energetically, and singing, " John Brown's 
body," etc. Two girls were sitting on a desk kicking their 
heels against it, and marking time by waving sticks. 

1203. Nellie. Age, 16 years. When I went berrying 
with my younger brothers and sisters, eight and ten years old, 
we used to play we were very rich, and call each other by 
names not our own. 

1204. Seven Boys. Age, 12 to 16 years. Behind the 
house in which one of these boys lived was an unused barn. 
The boys of the neighborhood used it for various purposes, 
anions; which were the following : — 



GROUP XL 241 

1, skating-rink; 2, walking-track; 3, theatre; 4, fort; 
5, workshop; 6, bowling-alley; 7, sparring-ring; 8, target- 
range ; 9, observatory (one of the boys had an old spy- 
glass) ; 10, prize-fights (two or three of the boys used boxing- 
gloves) ; 11, gymnasium. At one time they formed a secret 
society which they called the I. W. T. K. Society (I-Want-to- 
Know Society). They held the meetings of the society in this 
barn, and always after dark. They nailed up the doors and 
windows of the ground floor, and entered by climbing up a 
grapevine trellis to a second-story window. 

1205. Boys. Age, 8 to 15 years. At the time of the last 
election I saw a procession of about two hundred boys all in 
uniforms, and carrying torches. Two drums and two fifes 
furnished the music. Two or three times I saw twenty-five 
or more boys in uniform marching with the men. For a few 
days boys in squads of from three to ten were drilling in the 
streets. 

1206. Harry. Age, 15 years. Harry heard a ventrilo- 
quist. The next day I saw him holding a hand-glass up to 
his face, and trying to talk as the ventriloquist did, without 
moving his lips. 

[The writer of the following narrative was the eldest of 
the three children engaged in the pla} r . The play began 
when she was about seven, and her brother Abner about 
three. A younger sister, Emma, joined them when she was 
old enough. They were entirely secret about all this, both 
with children and adults. The narrative was written in 
188G, when the writer was eighteen. Being in Fairyland 
was, perhaps, suggested by their parents, in answer to the 
children's questions as to their own origin and history. The 
writer thinks she continued to believe in Fairyland until she 
was about eleven. The full name which she gave herself 



242 IMITA TION. 

was Madcap- Violet Spitfire-Pansy Mignonette-Heliotrope Ink- 
stand. The name she suggested for her brother was Valen- 
tine Dandelion Letterlover Inkstand.] 

Editor. 

1207. We used to play that we were back in Fairyland, 
and this made new names necessary. We had difficulty in 
finding such as we thought suitable for fairies, but finally 
decided on Valentine for my brother, and Violet for me. 
Then we talked of the father and mother, and this made 
a surname necessary. We adopted that of Inkstand. We 
played that we were rich, and we tried to choose such games 
as we thought fairies would play. I used to pretend to my 
brother that I wrote letters to the fairies, and received re- 
plies. I used to write a note, and put it in some out-of-the- 
way place. Then I would tell my brother that I knew in 
such a place he would find a letter for me. He would get 
it, and I would read it to him. I knew that I was deceiving 
him, but used to think that by the fairy that wrote to me I 
meant my own fancy, and therefore I was not lying, but only 
giving another name to myself. 

We believed that we lived in a city, on one side of which 
was a plain where we went to play. It was the part of 
Fairyland that bordered on this world, and was the place 
where doctors came to get fairies. One corner of the sitting- 
room was the city, and the middle of the floor was the plain. 
We would walk out on the plain, and after a little while sud- 
denly shout, " The doctor," and run to the corner. It seemed 
very real to us, and we half expected to see some one chasing 
us. We thought that when the doctor caught a fairy, he gave 
it a few drops of something, and the fairy forgot about Fairy- 
land, and began to grow. It was a matter of much doubt with 
us whether the doctor made the fairy take the drops, or 
whether he put them on the fairy's head. Our parents told 
us that we were once, fairies, the rest we invented ourselves. 



GBOUP XL 243 

We continued this play for several years, until we left off 
thinking much about being in Fairyland. But still the ima- 
ginary persons, Val and Vi as we called them, were our- 
selves. By this time Emma was old enough to join us in 
the play; and she became Blossom Inkstand, or, as we 
called her, Bios. We named the city East Point, and played 
that we "had girl and boy friends. We kept our play a 
complete secret from every one. For some time we lived 
on a farm several miles from any house where there were 
children, and could therefore play without fear of being seen. 
We never played when any one was in sight or hearing. 

We made-believe that we had cousins by the name of 
Hearthrug. Their names were Dandelion, Snowdrop, and 
Blossom. Each one was a real person to us, and had a 
character quite different from that of any other person. We 
had spools to represent ourselves and our friends. Bart of 
the time we would play with the spools, then Ave would be 
ourselves and play, and sometimes we would sit down and 
talk, having things happen, and each one taking his part. 
For a time we thought of dropping our real names and going 
by our play names, and for two or three years Emma always 
called me Violet. 

We had always played that we were rich, but now we 
began to tell what we had to make us rich. Mr. Inkstand and 
Mr. Hill had a great many horses in partnership. These 
horses were of two classes, both of which could be taught to 
talk. One kind we called Mountain Bangers ; these lived in 
mountainous parts of the country. They were of all colors, 
and were very beautiful. Some of them were of bright colors, 
and had marked on them saddles and bridles of bright gold. 
They had a leader whose name was Ruby. Near their hoofs 
were joints which gave out a liniment that would heal every 
kind of a hurt immediately. This liniment the horses used 
on themselves ; and Mr. Inkstand obtained it from them, and 



244 IMITATION. 

sold it to other persons. He never sold any of the horses. 
Another kind we called Plain Rangers ; these had very flat 
feet, to enable them to walk on the sandy plains where they 
lived. These plains were of very soft sand, and a man could 
not walk on them. Both kinds of horses could fly when they 
wished. The leader of the Plain Rangers was Goldie. Mr. I. 
had a kind of very small horses that were kept in a barn 
heated by steam. I do not think they were ever used for 
anything. We tried to ride them ; but they would roll them- 
selves into a ball, and we could do nothing with them. The 
other class were common horses, which were raised and sold ; 
some of them were trotters. 

Besides the horses, they dealt in cattle, hogs, and sheep. 
They had one remarkable cow, which had been captured after 
a hard struggle on the bank of a river near the city. She 
gave a tubful of milk every morning and night. She had a 
horn in front that she could extend or contract at pleasure. 
It was about ten feet long. 

We did not have spools to represent all our imaginary 
friends, and we talked about them more than we played. At 
first we were children and went to school. We delighted in 
playing tricks on our teacher. His name was Burgess, a 
name suggested by a story. He was very strong, and had no 
difficulty in punishing the children. One of his punishments 
was to tie a boy to a piece of wood, and duck him in water. 
Other punishments were of a similar character. Val was a 
fighter, and so was always in trouble. He was sometimes 
so badly hurt in fighting that he could not go to school for 
several days. He had a black eye most of the time. Dande- 
lion Hill was always quarrelling, and, being small and not 
very strong, usually got the worst of it. He and Val were 
together most of the time. 

Hill, as we called him to distinguish him from the other 
Dandelion, was very smart, being able to learn the lessons 



GROUP XL 245 

three or four days in advance. This gave him. plenty of time 
to devise mischief. Val was also able to get his lessons in 
advance, and invariably followed Hill's lead. 

Violet Inkstand was the leader among the girls. The 
children had a secret society called the A. Z.'s, which then- 
parents greatly disapproved of, and tried in every way to 
break up. This made it necessary to meet at midnight in a 
cave near the river that flowed through one part of the city. 
Val and Vi used to climb down a lightning-rod to the shed 
roof, and then jump to the ground. It was hard work to get 
back ; and we were sometimes discovered, and punished in 
various ways. The .A. Z.'s used to play tricks on any one 
who incurred their displeasure, often tarring and feathering 
a man. They once wanted to tar and feather Mr. Inkstand, 
but Val was so unwilling that it was given up. They robbed 
hen-roosts, stole melons, fished in forbidden waters, and, in 
short, did everything we could think of to annoy people that 
opposed them. They glued down the teacher's desk ; put some- 
thing sticky in his chair, so that when he sat down he could 
not get up without cutting himself loose ; soaped and greased 
the platform, so that when he stepped on it he would fall 
down ; and put pins in his chair. At last Mr. Inkstand sent 
them away from home. Afterwards, in college, they behaved 
worse, if possible. They got a hose, and played upon the 
professors at night, threw a bag full of cats into a teacher's 
bedroom, disobeyed all the rules, and were expelled from 
several colleges. 

At times we played we were grown up. Then Ave held 
political meetings, and made speeches. We elected a presi- 
dent and other officers. At first we had no laws, but made a 
few as they were needed. We added new cities to our coun- 
try, and had North, South, East, and West Point ; North, 
South, East, and West Berryhaunt ; the same number of cities 
named Love ; as many more Sugarcanes ; and some others. 



246 IMITATION. 

Nearly all our characters were expert swimmers. We played 
that a certain place was water, and we ran about in that place, 
making our arms go as if swimming. 

Dandelion Buck married Snowdrop Hearthrug, and Jacka- 
lion McLane afterwards married a girl named Duchess. Jack's 
uncle was a very fat man, and was terribly afraid of a horse ; 
and many a fine joke we had on him, until he hated the sight 
of us. He kept a dog-store, and we were always desirous to 
get a sight of his pets. 

Once Val fell in love with a girl named Minnie Beautiful, 
and married her, but she died soon after. 

We often used to play being shipwrecked. An old trunk 
was the ship, and we took our dolls with us. We would sud- 
denly cry out that the ship was on fire, or that it had struck 
a rock. Then Val would show how brave he was by risking 
his life to help us all off. This used to be very exciting ; and 
we would laugh or cry, as things laughable or sorrowful hap- 
pened. 

Our imaginary people were so real to us that we were 
very much troubled if anything happened to them; yet al- 
though we had the whole disposal of them, we often had them 
in trouble. 

At times we would pretend to be the horses Goldie and 
Ruby ; then Emma was Bessie, Ruby's colt. We then spent 
most of our time in climbing up and down the steep sides 
of canons, or in working our way through the weeds and 
sunflowers at the bottom. This we pretended was to teach 
Bessie to climb and jump. Occasionally we broke into Val's 
sugarcane fields, and ruined acres in a single night. As the 
horses could fly, it was necessary to devise some way of catch- 
ing them in the air. We devised a machine of the nature 
of a kite, with steel claws that worked by springs. We sent 
this up into the air until it was near a horse's hoof, when the 
claws would shut around the foot, and the horse could be 



GROUP XL 247 

pulled down to the ground. At last they did so much dam- 
age that Val was obliged to shut them up. 

After some time we introduced a new country to border 
on our land. This country was almost always at war with us. 
At first all we knew of it was that it was a long, narrow val- 
ley, whose sides were solid rock. The houses were built on 
projecting ledges of this rock. We named it Stony Gulch. 

Dandelion Hill had become a famous general, and had 
been president. He had also Avritten several books which 
were famous all over the world. These books were very sar- 
castic, and rather personal ; that is, he said many hard things 
of those who did not agree with him. Val and most of the 
other boys were officers in the army. We often had mock 
battles, in which I always took the Stony Gulch side, and 
Abner and Emma the other side. Each of us had a general, 
an aid, two artillerymen, and five infantry. All these were 
represented by dominoes, and fighting consisted in knocking 
them down with marbles. When a man had been knocked 
down three times, he was dead. The artillerymen were sup- 
posed to use the largest marbles, and do the most damage, 
so we aimed to kill all those first. That side was beaten 
whose men were all killed first. We were unwilling to have 
our favorite generals fight, because we hated to have them 
beaten. 

By this time we had certain well-known laws. By slow 
degrees Emma had come to represent two persons ; and after 
a while she ceased to be Blossom Inkstand, and was a boy, a 
cousin of Val's. Her name was then Bevamoy Tredennis 
Macurnis Pumpet. We called her Bill for short. 

Every one in the land must have three names that were 
known, and one name that was known only to the parents and 
the husband or wife. These are some of the names : Weep- 
ing-Willow, Catchcold, Pussy, Ruby, Queenie, for girls. Blos- 
som Inkstand's full name was Squash-Blossom Wren Canary 



248 IMITATION. 

Inkstand. Some of the boys' names were Dandelion, Letter^ 
lover, Snowplough, Walter, Willow, Alfred, "Rex, Victor, and 
Percy. I think what I read influenced our play somewhat. 
After reading " Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea," 
we organized a secret society whose leader was Nemo, and had 
a Nautilus. After a time the society was enlarged, Violet 
became one of the leaders, and Nemo was only a subordinate 
officer. Val joined it, and many of his friends. I read " The 
Water Witch," and we had an imaginary ship of that name 
with many mysterious powers. Her commander's name was 
Dan King. He managed in many different ways to get money 
from Val. He had a subterranean prison which no one could 
find, and in this he shut up people that he did not like. 
Many detectives were shut up there, and the beautiful daugh- 
ter of a detective. He had captured the detective when the 
daughter was small ; and when, after many years, he released 
the father, he still detained the daughter. Val finally got the 
girl, and restored her to her father. Val at one time swore 
allegiance to the Water Witch. The way in which she made 
her wishes known was quite curious. She gave him a small 
square of what seemed like iron, which he was to lay on his 
table every night. One night Val awoke to find it white 
hot. As soon as it was cool he opened it, and read the com- 
mand. He was afterwards released from his promise to her. 

Gradually Stony Gulch was enlarged, and we named it 
Tuscany. It had a king, a queen, and several princes. One 
of these princes came to East Point in disguise, and married 
Dove Sparrow Lattice, a very pretty, quiet girl. They eloped, 
and there was great trouble when it was known that she 
had married a Tuscan prince. Victor de Verne, heir to the 
throne, fell in love with Violet Inkstand. 

We were often wrecked in an unknown country, and had 
narrow escapes and thrilling adventures. We organized 
hunting expeditions and played detectives. Bill's father had 



GROUP XL 249 

a store of cats. We had a large pile of sand and clay in the 
dooryard, and at one time we dug wells, and laid out a garden. 
At first we used a piece of wood for a plough, then a bone, 
then a piece of wood with iron on it. We made carts and 
ladders. At first our wagons were very clumsy, but we im- 
proved them. We built ships, at first mere boxes, then more 
and more elaborate. The last one was named Echo, and had 
decks and a rudder ; it was armed with six cannons, and had 
a store of various things under the deck. The prow was 
rounded, and there was a cabin with seats in the centre. The 
creAV consisted of a headless black doll called Captain Kidd, 
two chessmen for first and second mates, and several spools 
for men. We had a steersman that we called a steerer. 

At first our spools were not dressed ; after a time we col- 
ored them with crayons ; then we dressed them in paper, and 
finally in worsted yarn. The women were always dressed 
more showily than the men. The captain's wife was the china 
part of a doll's arm, his baby was a doll about an inch long, 
which was headless and armless ; but that made no difference 
to us. The mate's wife was a piece of iron. We each had 
a ship. Mine was the Viola, Emma's the Pansy, Abner's the 
Echo. Abner was Captain Robin. The ships would not sail 
very well, and we did not try to have them ; we dragged them 
over the floor by a string. One corner of the room was China, 
one New York, another Liverpool, etc. The Echo and A r iola 
were smugglers, and the Pansy was a United States man-of- 
war. It was the Pansy's business to prevent us from buying 
or selling. If she could catch us on the open sea she could 
run into us, capture any of our men that fell overboard, and 
every time she could get within a foot of us say " Bang." 
This obliged us to be laid up for repairs while we counted fifty ; 
and if she said " Bang " twice, while we counted one hundred, 
and so on. She could not injure us when we were in port, but 
we could neither buy nor sell while she was in the same port 



250 IMITATION. 

with us. This was great fun unless she got one of our men. 
Our steerers were obliged to stand in a rather exposed place, 
and were liable to fall overboard at any sudden shock. The 
Pansy once caught the Echo's steerer, and declared her inten- 
tion of hanging him. In vain we pleaded for his life. She 
was determined. But Abner cried and felt so badly that she 
only hung him for a few minutes, not long enough to kill him. 
Abner built houses and barns, and had men and stock on a 
sand-hill all one summer. 

[When Abner was fifteen and Emma nine, their elder sis- 
ter, the writer of the preceding narrative, read to them an ac- 
count of rubber-making. She afterwards wrote the following 
narrative of what they did in consequence.] 

1208. About a week ago I read to the children an account 
of rubber-making. The account contained a glowing history 
of one man's success, and stated that money could be made 
very fast on the Amazon River. In a day or two Emma be- 
gan to ask me questions about how much rubber was worth a 
pound, etc. In the country where the rubber-trees are more 
abundant than anywhere else a tribe of savage Indians live, 
the story had stated ; and Emma asked if she could play that 
the Indians were all killed or driven away. After this I no- 
ticed that Abner was becoming interested ; both asked a great 
many questions, and they spent much time in reckoning cost 
and profit. I told them that I would be an old rubber manu- 
facturer, and help them all I could. They then told me that 
Val and Bill had bought large farms on the Amazon, in the 
Parentintin country, and were going to make rubber. I asked 
if they were not afraid of the Indians. Bill was, but Val was 
not. They asked how much one man could make in a day, 
how much they must pay a man, how many estrados they 
could have, etc. They hunted up their old spools for em- 
ployees, choosing black spools for negroes. Abner took up 



GROUP XL 251 

his farm under a small table in a bedroom, and Emma hers at 
the foot of the bed, where they have not been disturbed. Ab- 
ner has twenty-two men, and several women and children, and 
allows twenty-seven dollars a week for board, clothing, and 
fuel. Emma has twenty-one men and a number of women 
and children. She allows twenty-five dollars a week for their 
support. They have reckoned the profit carefully. Abner 
makes one hundred dollars a day, and Emma thirty-three. 
I drew a plan for them, and they laid out their farms with 
strings. Emma has now fifteen women and children, and 
lives on the side of the river opposite to the Indians. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



The first figure indicates the page, the second the number of the record. The citation 
in parenthesis is to the same heading in another group of records. 



GROUP I. 

Ages between 1 and 3. 



Putting out hand to be kissed, 1,1. 
Combing hair, 1, 2; 3, 15 ; 22, 137. (See 

Group II.) 
Sweeping, 1, 3. 
Putting out hand to be breathed on, 

1,4. 
A baby hushes his own foot to sleep, 

2,5. 
Lighting cigar and saying good-by, 2, 6. 
Putting paper in the stove, 2, 7. 
Pocking the cradle when sleepy, 2, 8. 
Sewing, 2, 9 ; 22, 142. (See Group II.) 
Imitating successive acts of another 

child, 2, 10. (See Group II.) 
Making an associated sound, 2, 11. 
Reading, 3, 12; 9, 55; 21, 129; 24, 155; 

(See Gkoup II.) 
Moistening pencil-point in the mouth, 

3, 13 ; 18, 112. (See Group II.) 
Calling father by Christian name, 3, 14. 

(See Group III.) 
Wiping the cat's mouth, 3, 1G. 
Saying "burn" when touching a cold 

stove, 3, 17. 
Using a cane, 3, 18. 
Playing horse, 4, 19 ; 7, 43 ; 25, 158 ; 25, 

160. (See Group II.) 
Ring the bell, 4, 20. 
Shaking hands, 4, 21. 
Imitating the voice, 4, 22. 
A peddler, 4, 23 ; 25, 159. 
Eating imaginary food, 4, 24 ; 5, 27. 
Reproducing emphasis of voice, 5, 25. 
Prayer, 5, 26. (See Group III.) 



A roll of cloth for a baby, 5, 28. 

Washing face, 5, 29. 

Writing, 5, 30; 17, 108. 

Eating like a cat, 6, 31. (See Group IV.) 

Sneezing, 6, 32. 

Rubbing oil on a sore throat, 6, 33. 

Sharpening a knife, 6, 34. 

Blacking shoes, 6, 35. 

Cleaning the stove, 6, 36. 

Gesture to signify all gone, 6, 37. 

Smoking, 6, 38. (See Group II.) 

Using a toothpick, 7, 39. 

Curling the hair, 7, 40; 26, 165. (See 

Group II.) 
Using soap, 7, 41. 

Wall papering, 7, 42. (See Group V.) 
Using eye-water, 7, 44 ; 26, 1G9. 
Serving a meal, 7, 45. 
A letter-carrier, 8, 46. (See Group II.) 
Giving the bird water, 8, 47. 
Impatience, 8, 48. 
Unscrewing the stopper of a bottle, 8, 

49. 
Playing shinney, 8, 50. 
" Winding it up," 8, 51. 
Cleaning the ringer-nails, 8, 52. 
Pulling the paper from the wall, 9, 53. 
Covering up a baby, 9, 54. 
Using a tuning-fork, 9, 56. (See Group 

IV.) 
Making cake, 9, 57; 21,135. (See Group 

VII.) 
Playing the piano, 9, 58 ; 15, 95. (See 

Group II.) 



254 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Pouting, 9, 59. 

Feeling for baby's teetb, 10, 60. (See 

Group V.) 
Catching a mouse, 10, 61. 
A sick baby, 10, 62 ; 21, 136. (See Group 

II.) 
"Going travelling," 10, 63. 
Gesture to signify tivo, 10, 64. 
Doing what another does, 10, 65 ; 12, 

80. (See Group IV.) 
A cat treated like a baby, 10, 66. (See 

Group II.) 
At a wedding, 10, 67. 
Asking a blessing, 11, 68. (See Group 

III.) 
" Who bought your shoes ? " 11,69. 
Taking a meal, 11, 70. 
Carting wood, 11, 71. 
Acts suggested by a picture, 11, 72 ; 13, 

86. (See Group II.) 
Taking out tacks, 11, 73. 
Shut up in a closet, 12, 74. 
Wearing spectacles, 1,2, 75. (See Group 

II.) 
Talking through the register, 12, 76. 
Carrying milk-cans to the barn, 12, 77. 
Moving wood, 12, 78. 
Putting stoppers in the milk-cans, 12, 

79. 
Doing what an adult does 12, 80. 
Playing school, 12, 81; 29, 180; 29, 181. 

(See Group III.) 
Drawing, 13, 82. 
Painting the house, 13, 83 ; 30, 188. (See 

Group III.) 
" Boys, mind ! " 13, 84. 
Things done during forty minutes, 13, 

85. 
Things done during twenty minutes, 14, 

87. 
" Two dogs watching for papa," 14, 83. 
Making-believe hurt, 14, 89. 
" My's got pants ! " 14, 90. 
Bowing and saying " How do you do?" 

14, 91. 
Holding an imaginary doll, 14, 92. 
Presenting candy, 15, 93. 
" Walk in, Mr. Crosby ! " 15, 94. 
A doll made of a towel, 15, 96. 
A policeman, 15, 97; 20, 125. (See 

Group III.) 



Lifting a stone with a derrick, 15, 98. 

Crying, 16, 99. 

Playing ball, 16, 100 ; 19, 121. 

Selling apples, 16, 101. (See Group II.) 

Calling the names of railroad stations, 

16, 102. 
Walking lame, 16, 103. (See Group III.) 
Using a carriage-robe, 16, 104. 
Feeding the pig, 17, 105. 
A pig in a pen, 17, 106. 
Gymnastics, 17, 107 ; 27, 176. (See Group 

III.) 
Spreading rugs on the floor, 17, 109. 
Helping get up from the floor, 18, 110. 
Taking out false teeth, 18, 111. (See 

Group III.) 
A conversation, 18, 113. 
Warming bare feet, 18, 114. 
Blowing out a match, 18, 115. 
" I won't ! " 18, 116. 
Cows in a barn, 18, 117. 
" Kitty crying," 19, 118. 
Sawing wood, 19, 119. 
Washing windows, 19, 120. 
Admiring colored cards, 19, 122. 
A tired horse, 19, 123. 
Making a package, 20, 124. 
Shooting partridges, 20, 126. 
Chopping wood, 20, 127. 
Throwing snowballs, 20, 128. 
Fitting a dress, 21, 130. 
Giving castor oil, 21, 131. 
Biting persons like a dog, 21, 132. 
Making a chimney, 21, 133. 
Singing, 21, 134. (See Group III.) 
Helped to use a fork, 22, 138. 
Winding the clock, 22, 139. 
Swinging Indian clubs, 22, 140. 
Gesture to signify up and down, 22, 141. 
Spelling words to conceal the meaning, 

22,143:29,185. (See Group IV.) 
An engine, 23, 144. (See Group II.) 
Selling meat, 23, 145. 
Scrubbing the floor, 23, 146. 
Putting spices in a pudding, 23, 147. 
Baking cookies, 23, 148. 
Playing a guitar, 23, 149. 
Writing letters, 24, 150. (See Group 

V.) 
Playing dominoes, 24, 151. 
Dusting the furniture, 24, 152. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



255 



" This is President Garfield," 24, 153. 

"Charge!" 24, 154. 

Taking the position of another person, 

24, 156. 
Warming the hands, 24, 157. 
An oysterman, 25, 161. 
A fish-man, 25, 162. 
Taking another name, 26, 163. (See 

Group II.) 
The Salvation Army, 26, 164. (See 

Group II.) 
Taking a splinter from the hand, 26, 166. 
Washing the dog, 26, 167. 
" The baby is choking," 26, 168. 
Putting the baby to sleep, 26, 170. (See 

Group II.) 
Reproducing time and force, but not 

words, 27, 171. 
An injury by falling, 27, 172. 



Bandaging a horse's foot, 27, 173. (See 

Group II.) 
Selling newspapers, 27, 174. (See Group 

IV.) 
Remembered the way, 27, 175. 
Selling milk and coal, 28, 177. 
Using a chisel, 28, 178. 
Washing clothes, 28, 179. (See Group 

II.) 
Driving nails, 29, 182. (See Group II.) 
A dead mouse suggests sickness, 29, 183. 
Using an umbrella, 29, 184. 
A city workman, 30, 186. (See Group 

IX.) 
Laying a carpet, 30, 187. 
" I am grandma ! " 30, 189. 
An elder sister, 30, 190. 
A boy who had lived on shipboard, 30, 

191. 



GROUP II. 

Ages between 3 and 4. 



A monkey, 31, 192. 

Wearing spectacles, 31, 193 ; 32, 198. 

(See Group V.) 
Using a tuning-fork, 31, 194. (See Group 

IV.) 
Washing clothes, 31, 195; 48, 287. 

See (Group III.) 
" I got him by the left leg," 31, 196. 
Feeding a horse, 32, 197 ; 43, 260. 
Doing examples in arithmetic, 32, 199. 
Pulling up parsnips, 32, 200. 
Lighting a cigar, 33, 201. 
Curling the hair, 33, 202. 
Crushing the teeth, 33, 203. 
Tumbling like certain toys, 33, 204. 
Unconscious movements of the face, 33, 

205 ; 44, 262 ; 46, 277. 
" I'll be down in two seconds," 33, 206. 
A letter-carrier, 34, 207. (See Group 

III.) 
A telephone, 34, 208. (See Group III.) 
Eating snow, 34, 209. 
Dressing up the baby, 34, 210. 
A sore eye, 35, 211. 
A cat treated like a baby, 35, 212. 

(See Group III.) 



The President's speech, 35, 213. 
Making a speech, 35, 214. 
Elastics and a bouquet, 35, 215. 
Playing " house," 36, 216. (See Group 

IV.) 
An engine, 36, 217. (See Group rv.) 
Sewing, 36, 218. (See Group VII.) 
A man with a disabled hand, 36, 219. 
Naming a doll, 36, 220. 
" Gertie cold ! " 36, 221. 
Whistling, 36, 222 ; 46, 269. (See Group 

V.) 
Running a race, 37, 223. 
Taking another name, 37, 224; 37, 225; 

49, 292 ; 52, 314. (See GROUP III.) 
Playing "horse," 37, 226; 52, 313. 

(See Group III.) 
Closing the register, 3S, 227. 
Imitating successive acts of another 

child, 38, 228. 
Reading, 38, 229; 38, 230; 49, 294. 

(See Group III.) 
Smoking, 38, 231; 39, 233; 42, 257. 

(See Group V.) 
" Men eat only at meal-times," 39, 232. 
Singing, 39, 234. 



256 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



" Not the mamma that spilled the milk," 

39, 235. 

Painting the fence, 39, 236. (See Group 

IV.) 
Walking up and down with the baby, 

40, 237. 

Saying " No, Sir," 40, 238. 

The word rain associated with umbrella, 
40, 239. 

Playing a banjo, 40, 240. 

A sled, 40, 241. 

Making a doll, 40, 242. 

Laughing, 40, 243. 

Bread without butter, 40, 244. 

James uses a pronunciation he had cor- 
rected, 41, 245. 

A child that died from punishment, 41, 
246. 

Putting baby to sleep, 41, 247 ; 48, 285. 
(See Group VII.) 

Biding a bicycle, 41, 248; 42, 254. (See 
Group IV.) 

Using vaseline, 41, 249. 

Grooming horses, 41, 250. (See Group 

in.) 

Milking the cows, 42, 251. 

A cow's tail, 42, 252. 

A weight for hitching a horse, 42, 253. 

Harnessing a horse, 42, 255. 

A funeral but no burial, 42, 256. 

" Drink some more, kitty ! " 43, 258. 

Preparing to take some one to ride, 43, 

259. 
Waving a flag at a railroad crossing, 43, 

261. 
Doing what another does, 44, 262 ; 46, 

277; 47,283. 
Making a railroad, 44, 263. (See Group 

III.) 
Movements while singing, 44, 264. (See 

Group V.) 
A cat and a mouse, 44, 265. (See Group 

VII.) 
Tied to a post for running away, 44, 

266. 
Playing the piano, 45, 267 ; 50, 299. (See 

Group IV.) 
Combing hair, 45, 268. 
Painting lessons, 45, 270. 
Moistening pencil point in the mouth, 

45, 271. 



Jumping rope, 45, 272. 

" Like a good girl," 46, 273. 

Throwing stones, 46, 274. 

Holding up dress skirts, 46, 275. (See 

Group V.) 
Driving nails, 46, 276. 
Baldness, 46, 278. 
Doing errands, 46, 279. 
Playing a handorgan, 47, 280. 
Acts suggested by a picture, 47, 281. 

(See Group V.) 
A sick baby, 47, 282. (See Group VIII.) 
Putting the horse in the barn, 47, 284. 
Ironing clothes, 48, 286. 
Using a word just used by an adult, 48, 

288. 
A barber, 48, 289 ; 53, 320. (See Group 

III.) 
A doctor, 48, 290. (See Group III.) , 
A torchlight procession, 49, 291. (See 

Group V.) 
A prize given by a teacher, 49, 293. 
Selling apples, 49, 295. 
" Here's Ida without any hands or feet! " 

49, 296. 
A funeral, 50, 297. (See Group VI.) 
Imitating the gait of a horse, 50, 298. 
Repeating what has been said to another 

child, 50, 300. 
" Fixing up a parlor," 50, 301. 
Cutting meat, 50, 302. 
An ice-man, 51, 303. (See Group III.) 
Bandaging a horse's legs, 51, 304. 
Picking a horse, 51, 305. 
Delivering groceries, 51, 306. (See 

Group VII.) 
An auctioneer, 51, 307. (See Group 

VIII.) 
Some person in the story has two gold 

rings, 51, 308. 
Carrying a block on the head, 51, 309. 
Holding a letter near the stove to dry 

the ink, 52, 310. 
Selling coal, 52, 311. 
Talking in an assumed voice, 52, 312. 
"I'm a big lion!" 53,315. 
Bowing, 53, 316. (See Group V.) 
" I thinked of the cats," 53, 317. 
Carrying a watch, 53, 318. (See Group 

VIII.) 
Studying a lesson, 53, 319. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



257 



GROUP III. 

Ages between 4 and 5. 



Playing " horse," 55, 321 ; 63, 375 : 65, 

393. (See GROUP IV.) 
Reading, 55, 322 ; 62, 372 ; 75, 444. (See 

Group IV.) 
Prayer, 55, 323. (See Group VI.) 
Gesture made in drawing, 55, 324. 
Making bread, 55, 325. 
Wanting what another has, 55, 326. 
Delivering coal, 55, 327 ; 66, 397. 
Making a harp, 56, 328. 
Saying what another says, 56, 329 ; 69, 

351 ; 61, 359. (See Group IV.) 
Picking up leaves, 56, 330. 
Doing housework, 56, 331. 
Planing a hoard, 56, 332. 
A junk dealer, 56, 333 ; 66, 401 ; 71, 422. 

(See Group VIII.) 
Say " No, no," to the baby, 56, 334. 
Saying " good-day," 57, 335. 
Tying bonnet strings, 57, 336. 
Howard does what Mildred does, 57, 

337. 
Walking about to amuse the baby, 67, 

338. 
Closing an umbrella, 57, 339. 
Taking off a cloak in the cars, 57, 340. 
Blasting rocks, 57, 341. 
A hen, 58, 342. 
Sitting down hard, 58, 343. 
Repeating jargon, 58, 344. 
Taking out false teeth, 58, 345. 
Fishing, 58, 346 ; 62, 370 ; 63, 379. (See 

Group VI.) 
Playing "bear," 59, 347; 67, 405. (See 

Group VIII.) 
A policeman, 59, 348. (See Group V.) 
An umbrella, 59, 349; 66, 398. (See 

Group V.) 
Flying a kite, 59, 350. 
A doctor, 59, 352. (See Group IV.) 
Repeating " Oh! " in the same time and 

pitch, 60, 353. 
Acts suggested by a picture, 60,354 ; 64, 

388. (See Group V.) 
Singing, 60, 355; 72, 425. (See GROUP 

IV.) 



A barber, 60, 356 ; 64, 385. (See GROUP 

VIII.) 
Swinging a lantern at a railroad cross- 
ing, 60, 357. 
A Christmas tree, 60, 358. (See Group 

VII.) 
Asking a blessing, 61, 3G0. 
Christmas presents, 61, 361 ; 74, 435. 
Calling father by Christian name, 61, 

362. 
Scolding a banana, 61, 363. 
Sailing boats, 61, 364 ; 63, 380. 
Scattering sand on the sidewalk, 61, 

365. 
A pistol, 61,366; 75,441. 
Walking lame, 62, 367. (See Group IX.) 
A funeral, 62, 368. (See Group IV.) 
A flag hanging from the window, 62, 

369. 
Washing clothes, 62, 371 ; 76, 445. 

(See Group IV.) 
Jack's beanstalk, 62, 373. 
Taking another name, 62, 374 ; 67,407; 

68, 410; 69, 413; 74, 437. (See 

Grocjp iv.) 
Putting on a bonnet, 63, 376. 
Cutting a pie, 63, 377. (See Group 

VIII.) 
A beard, 63, 378. 
Giving medicine, 64, 3S1. (See Group 

VIII.) 
Losing step in marching, 64, 382. 
Stooping to go under a bridge, 64, 383. 
Selling pies, 64, 384. 
Flaying house, 64, 386; 67, 404. (See 

Group IV.) 
A cat treated like a baby, 64, 387 ; 72, 

425. (See Group IV.) 
Scolding an egg-beater, 65, 389. 
On opposite sides of a body of water, 

65, 390. 
Making a piano, 65, 391. 
Going to Worcester, 65, 392. 
A telephone, 65, 394 ; 71, 420. (See 

Group V.) 
Mailing a letter, 66, 395. 



258 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



A preacher, 66, 396. (See Group VII.) 

A hammock, 66, 399. 

" Mans have their coats unbuttoned," 

66, 400. 
A little grandmother, 66, 402. (See 

Group IV.) 
A letter-carrier, 67, 403. (See Gkoup 

IV.) 
A music teacher, 67,406. (See Gkoup 

VII.) 
Making a railroad, 68, 408. 
A chicken, 68, 409. 
Taking photographs, 69, 411. (See 

Group IX.) 
A railroad train, 69, 412. 
A teamster, 70, 414. 
An ice-man, 70, 415. 
Playing school, 70, 416 ; 76, 449. (See 

Group IV.) 
A pair of skates, 70, 417. 
Grooming horses, 70, 418. (See Group 

VIII.) 
Gymnastics, 70, 419. (See Group V.) 
A hitch-rein and a telephone, 71, 420. 



Mildred plays she is a baby, 71, 421. 

An engineer, 71, 423. 

Painting the house, 71, 424. (See Group 

IV.) 
A drunken man, 72, 426. 
Presenting a bill, 72, 427. 
Laying drain-pipe, 72, 428. 
Entering church, 72, 429. 
Shaving, 72, 430 ; 76, 446. (See Group 

IV.) 
Using toilet-powder, 73, 431. 
Enjoying the play of others, 73, 432. 
Administering the sacrament, 73, 433. 

(See Group VII.) 
A man with a deformed foot, 73, 434. 
The stocking is the foot's house, 74, 436. 
Killing a pig, 74, 438. 
Making rhymes, 75, 439. 
A chicken's grave, 75, 440. 
Teaching, 75, 442. 
Making an altar rail, 75, 443. 
Milking the cows, 76, 447. 
Pruning trees, 76, 448. 
Soldiers, 76, 450. (See Group IV.) 



GROUP IV. 



Ages between 5 and 6. 



Selling butter, 77, 451. 

Playing the piano, 77, 452; 93, 550. 

(See Group V.) 
An organ-grinder and monkeys, 77, 453. 

(See Group VI.) 
Soldiers, 78, 454. 
Taking the " position " of gymnastics, 

78, 455. 
"Walking like another person, 78, 456. 
Reading, 78, 457 ; 80, 467. 
Carrying books like another person, 78, 

458. 
A brakeman, 78, 459. (See Group V.) 
A procession, 78, 460. (See Group V.) 
Playing "house," 79, 461; 92, 545; 94, 

552. (See Group V.) 
An engine, 79, 462 ; 82, 483. (See Group 

VI.) 
Making cider, 79, 463. 
Buying and selling, 79, 464. 



Taking another name, 79, 465 ; 86, 506 ; 

89, 526. (See Group V.) 
Walking with crutches, 80, 466 ; 82, 481. 

(See Group V.) 
Writing, 80,'468; 81,473. (See Group 

VII.) 
Firing cannon, 80, 469. 
Making frosted cake, 80, 470. (See 

Group VI.) 
A little grandmother, 80, 471. 
Cutting an orange, 81, 472. 
Waving the hand, 81, 474. 
Observing the countenance of an adult, 

81, 475. 
Merchants, 81, 476. 
A desire to wear pants, 81, 477. 
Doing what another does, 81, 478; 84, 

495 ; 84, 496 ; 92, 543 ; 94, 556. (See 

Group VII.) 
An invalid, 82, 479. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



259 



A man with a cork leg. 82, 480. (See 

Group IX.) 
A man with one hand, 82, 482. 
A funeral, 82, 484 ; 84, 491. (See Group 

VI.) 
Whittling, 83, 485. 
Grading the street, S3, 486. 
Eating like a cat, 83, 487. (See Group 

V.) 
" Pass it to me so I can shake my head," 

83, 488. 
Keeping time to music by nodding the 

head, 83, 489. (See Group V.) 
A school punishment, 83, 490. 
A bonfire, 84, 492. 
Singing, 84, 493 ; 84, 494 ; 98, 571. 
Saying what another says, 84, 497. 
Using a snow-plough, 85, 498. 
Unwillingness to be outdone, 85, 499; 

87, 514. 
Selling newspapers, 85, 500; 96, 565. 

(See Group V.) 
How to hold a drum, 85, 501. 
Mustaches, 85, 502. (See Group VH.) 
A sore leg, 85, 503. 
Eating a turkey's leg, 85, 504. 
Picking turkeys, 86, 505. 
Firemen, 86, 507. (See Group V.) 
A band of music, 86, 508. (See Group 

IX.) 
Killing roosters, 86, 509. 
Selling ice-cream, 86, 510. 
A stage-coach, 87 , 511. (See Group XI.) 
Teaching spelling, 87, 512. 
A cat treated like a baby, 87, 513. (See 

Group YIII.) 
Dressmaking, S7, 515. 
Making poison cakes, 87, 516. 
Selling sugar, 88, 517. 
Selling whips, 88, 518. 
Shaving, 88, 519. 
Lighting street-lamps, 88, 520. 
Getting warm at the register, 88, 521. 
Painting the fence, 89, 522. 
A bicycle, 89, 523. 



A concert, 89, 524. (See Group VII.) 

A baker, 89, 525. 

Playing school, 90, 527 ; 96, 561 ; 96, 566. 

(See Group V.) 
Making a doll, 90, 528. (See Group VII.) 
Making a house, 90, 529. (See Group V.) 
Spelling words to conceal the meaning, 

90, 530. 
A preacher, 90, 531 ; 94, 555. (See Group 

V.) 
A doctor, 90, 532. (See Group V.) 
An elocutionist, 91, 533. 
" Syl, you are a boy and I'm a girl," 91, 

534. 
Playing "horse," 91,535. (See GROUP 

V.) 
A cat and kittens, 91, 536. 
Wearing a veil, 91, 537. 
A mill, 91,538. 

A description of a gypsy, 91, 539. 
A command, 92, 540. 
Making a brush " fly," 92, 541. 
Mending the road, 92, 542. 
Washing clothes, 92, 544. 
Saying " Ma'am," 93, 546. 
Shoeing a horse, 93, 547. 
A steamboat, 93, 548. (See Group V.) 
A soldier, 93, 549 ; 97, 567. (See Group 

V.) 
Walking arm in arm, 93, 551. (See 

Group IX.) 
Painting the house, 94, 553. (See GROUP 

VIII.) 
Beating eggs, 94, 554. 
Giggling, 95, 557. 
Making a visit, 95, 558. 
A bill of fare, 95, 559. 
A bandage on the throat, 95, 560. 
Distributing handbills, 96, 562. 
The measles, 96, 563. 
A letter-carrier, 96, 564. 
Taking care of a baby, 97, 568. 
In a railroad-car, 97, 569. 
A circus, 97, 570. (See GROUP X.) 
Using a tuning-fork, 98, 571. 



" 



260 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



GROUP V. 

Ages between 6 and 7. 



The Salvation Army, 99, 572. (See 

Group VII.) 
A horse-car, 99, 573. 
Playing " horse," 99, 574 ; 100, 579. (See 

Group VI.) 
Taking prisoners to court, 99, 575. 
Selling newspapers, 99, 576. 
A steamboat, 99, 577. (See GROUP VII.) 
Rowing, 100, 578 ; 102, 589. (See Group 

IX.) 
Artificial curls, 100, 5S0. (See Group 

VII.) 
Playing " house," 100, 581 ; 106, 615 ; 108, 

624 ; 115, 661. (See Group VI.) 
" You let my brother be ! " 100, 582. 
The toothache, 101, 583. 
Carrying the arm in a sling, 101, 584. 
A temperance lecturer, 101, 585. 
Gymnastics, 101, 586. (See Group IX.) 
A procession, 101, 587. (See Group 

VIII.) 
Chickens, 102, 588. 
Doing what another does, 102, 590 ; 105, 

612. (See Group VI.) 
A livery stable, 102, 591. 
A sitting-room, 102, 592. 
Taking another name, 102, 593 ; 111, 640. 

(See Group VIII.) 
A stage-coach, 102, 594. (See Group X) 
Catching rats, 103, 595. 
Wearing spectacles, 103, 596. (See 

Group VII.) 
Holding up dress skirts, 103, 597; 105, 

611. (See Group VII.) 
Playing the piano, 103, 598; 111, 639; 

115, 603; 117, 671; 120, 684. (See 

Group VI.) 
Acts suggested by a picture, 103, 599; 

119, 679. 
Making the movements of a railroad 

conductor, 103, 600. 
" Good, Eliza," 103, 601. 
I Writing Letters, 103, 602. 
M Movements while singing, 104, 603. (See 

Group VII.) 
" How the varnish smells ! " 104, C04. 



Eating like a cat, 104, 605. (See Group 

VI.) 
Making a flag, 104, 606. 
Teaching manners, 104, 607. 
" Jack the cat-killer," 104, 608. 
Feeling for baby's teeth, 105, 609. 
Wearing hat-pins, 105, 610. 
Carrying papers in the coat pocket, 105, 

613. 
A circus-rider, 105, 614. 
Walking on stilts, 106, 616. 
Greasing wheels, 106, 617. 
A surprise, 106, 61S. 
A drummer boy, 106, 619. 
A doctor, 107, 620. 

A postofflce, 107, 621. (See Group VII.) 
A garden, 107, 622. (See Group VI.) 
Firemen, 107, C23 ; 120, 683. (See Group 

VI.) 
" Gee up, cars ! " 108, 625. 
An umbrella, 10S, 626 ; 113, 649. 
Carrying a corpse, 108, 627. 
Playing " mother," 109, 628. 
Learning songs, 109, 629. 
" I never have time for anything ! " 109, 

630. 
Digging a well, 109, 631. 
Making a house, 109, 632 ; 114, 658. (See 

Group VIII.) 
A brakeman, 110, 633. 
Whistling, 110, 634. 
" My coffee is gone ! " 110, 635. 
Buying chickens, 110, 636. 
A telephone, 110, 637. (See Group VI.) 
A book-keeper, 110, 638. 
Cutting an acquaintance, 111, 641. 
A telegraphic despatch, 111, 642. 
A soldier, 111, 643. 
Prayer, 111, 644. (See Group VI.) 
The 57th regiment, 112, 645. 
A railroad conductor, 112, 646. 
The Three Bears, 112, 647. (See Group 

IX.) 
A theatre, 113, 64S. 
Walking lame, 113, 650. (See Group 

VII.) 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



261 



A preacher, 113, 651 ; 118, 674. (See 

Group VI.) 
Going to drive, 113, 652. 
Moving, 114, 653. (See Group VII.) 
Contagious laughter, 114, 654 ; 120, 682. 

(See Group VI.) 
Using crutches, 114, 655. 
A cat with a bird in her mouth, 114, 656. 
Smoking, 114, 657; 115, 659. (See 

Group VI.) 
A policeman, 115, 660. (See Group VII.) 
Reason for giving a present, 115, 6G2. 
Weaving, 116, 6G4. 



Soldiers who have pensions, 116, 665. 

" What is a soul? " 116, 666. 

Playing school, 117, 607; 117, 670; 118, 

673 ; 118, 676 ; 119, 680. (See Group 

VI.) 
A torchlight procession, 117, G68. 
Wall papering, 117, 66D. 
A store, 118, 672. (See Group VI.) 
Piggie Wig and Piggie Wee, 118, 675. 
Picking blackberries, 119, 677. 
" Mamma has gone for the cradle," 119, 

678. 
Making lace, 120, 681. 



GROUP VI. 

Ages between 7 and 8. 



Playing house, 121, 685; 128, 721. 

(See Group VII.) 
Humming a tune, 121, 686. 
A nurse, 121, 687. 
A dog, 121, 688. 
Marching in time, 122, 689. 
Playing school, 122, 690 ; 124, 703 ; 125, 

711; 126, 715; 126, 718; 129, 730; 

132, 743; 137, 772. (See Group 

VII.) 
Using a handkerchief, 122, 091. 
Being a woman, 122, 392. 
Making frosting for pies, 122, 693. 
A drum-band, 122, 694. 
Hanging a criminal, 122, 695. 
Firemen, 122, C9G ; 124, 707 ; 126, 713 ; 

131, 742; 134, 757. (See Group 

VII.) 
" "We're greyhounds," 122, 697. 
Flying, 123, 69S. 

Prayer, 123, 699. (See Group VIII.) 
A telephone, 123, 700. (See Group 

VII.) 
A garden, 123, 701. 
Reasons for -wearing glasses, 123, 702. 
An organ-grinder and monkey, 124, 704 ; 

135, 759. 
A buried doll, 124, 705. 
Doing -what another does, 124, 706 ; 125, 

708 ; 129, 726. (See Group VII.) 
A store, 125, 712; 126, 717; 131, 740. 

(See Group VII.) 



A Dutch dog, 125, 709. 

Contagious laughter, 125, 710. 

A letter-carrier, 126, 714. 

Mr. Dodo and Miss Kittle, 126, 716. 

A -wedding, 127, 719. (See Group VII.) 

Going to Boston, 128, 720. 

A boy dragging a tin plate, 128, 722. 

Fishing, 128, 723. 

A race, 128, 724. 

Vertical script, 129, 725. 

Playing the piano, 129, 727 ; 132, 745. 

(See Group VIII.) 
Smoking, 129, 728. (See Group EX.) 
An electric car, 129, 729. (See Group 

XI.) 
Eating like a dog, 129, 731. 
Measuring telegraph poles, 130, 732. 
A fairy, 130, 733. 

A preacher, 130, 734. (See Group VII.) 
How a calf walks, 130, 735. 
Eating bread without butter, 130, 736. 
Taking up a subscription, 130, 737. 
Gathering wild-flowers, 130, 738. 
Playing horse, 131, 739. (See Group 

VII.) 
An ornamental comb, 131, 741. 
Selling coffee, 132, 744. 
A funeral, 132, 746. (See Group VII.) 
A farm, 132, 747. 
A coffin, 133, 74S. 

Decorating soldiers' graves, 133, 749. 
A brake, 133,750. 



262 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Noah's ark, 133, 751. 

An engine, 133, 752. (See Gboup VIII.) 

" Marching through Georgia," 133, 753. 

A rooster, 134, 754. 

In a saloon, 134, 755. 

Methuselah, 134, 756. 

Teaching music, 135, 758. (See Group 

X.) 
Throwing balls at a mark, 135, 760. 
A nun, 135, 761. (See Group XL) 
" I'm a railroad man," 135, 762. 
A cat, 135, 763. 



" Jack he nimble," etc., 136, 764. 

A battle, 136, 765. 

The sun, 136, 766. 

A bride, 136, 767. 

Money, 136, 76S. 

How Nathan got the eggs, 137, 769. 

A birthday party, 137, 770. 

Indians, 137, 771. (See Group XI.) 

A naughty baby, 137, 773. 

"Wearing a long dress, 137, 774. 

Talking in Grandpa's voice, 138, 775. 



GEOUP VII. 

Ages between 8 and 9. 



Movements while singing, 139, 776 ; 

146, 811. 

Going to Sweden, 139, 777. 

A steamboat, 139, 778. 

Going out of the yard, 140, 779. 

A lover, 140, 7S0. 

A preacher, 140, 781 ; 141, 785. (See 

Group IX.) 
A store, 141, 782 ; 145, 808 ; 146, 810 ; 

147, 820. (See Group VIII.) 

The celebration of Columbus Day, 141, 

783. (See Group XI.) 
Writing, 141, 784. 
Soldiers, 141, 786; 149, 831. (See 

Group X.) 
Doing what another does, 142, 787; 

148, 825; 153, 852. (See Group 
VIII.) 

A music-teacher with one hand, 142, 

788. 
Making cake, 142, 789. 
Firemen, 142, 790; 144, 799; 151, 839. 

(See Group VIII.) 
Moving, 142, 791. 
An improvised drama, 143, 792. 
Holding up dress-skirts, 143, 793. (See 

Group X.) 
A wedding, 143, 794. 
A railroad accident, 143, 795. 
A poppy-show, 143, 796. 
Playing horse, 144, 797; 145, 806; 

152, 847; 152, 848. (See Group 

VIII.) 
Learning from older pupils, 144, 798. 



Unconscious pugnacity, 144, 800. 
"Wearing spectacles, 144, 801. (See 

Group IX.) 
An electric car, 144, 802 ; 151, 842. 
Delivering groceries, 145, 803. 
The Salvation Army, 145, 804. (See 

Group X.) 
A dentist, 145, 805 ; 150, 837. 
Playing house, 145, 807; 147, SIS. 

(See Group VIII.) 
A lady, 146, 809. 
Our baby, 146, 812, 
A butcher, 146, 813. 
Playing school, 146, 814; 147, 815; 

149, 828; 149, 830. (See Group 

VIII.) 
Going out in the rain, 147, 816. 
A funeral, 147, 817. (See Group VIII.) 
Dancing, 147, 819. (See Group IX.) 
A cat and a mouse, 148, 821. 
Bob, out-of-doors in the rain, 148, 822. 
Bridal veils, 148, 823. 
Walking lame, 148, 824. (See Group 

IX.) 
The movements of a clock, 148, 826. 
Jumping rope, 148, 827. (See Group 

VIII.) 
At the music festival, 149, 829. 
Selling medicines, 150, 832. 
Selling tickets, 150, 833. 
Driving oxen, 150, 834. 
A telephone, 150, 835. (See Group 

VIII.) 
Making a doll baby, 150, 836. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



263 



Carrying a watch, 151, 838, 

Mustaches, 151, 840. 

Making dolls, 151, 841. 

Sewing, 151, 843. 

A dinner-pail, 152, S44. 

Policemen, 152, 845; 156, 806. (See 

Group XI.) 
Administering the Sacrament, 152, 846. 
A post-office, 153, 849. (See Group XI.) 
At the theatre, 153, S50. 
A graceful attitude, 153, 851. 
Mr. Fox, 153, 853. 
A priest, 153, 854. 
A church, 153, 855. 
At a boarding-school, 154, S56. 



A police court, 154, 857. (See Group 

XI.) 
Putting baby to bed, 155, 858. 
A funeral procession, 155, 859. 
Pboebe, 155, 860. 
Hiding horseback, 155, 861. 
" The Three Little Pigs," 156, 862. 
flaking a fire, 156, 863. 
Artificial curls, 156, S64. 
A pair of skates, 156, SOS. 
A magnet, 157, 867. 

A concert, 157, 868. (See Group VIII.) 
Mt. Wachusett, 157, 869. 
A Christmas tree, and other things, 157, 

870. 



GROUP VIII. 

Ages between 9 and 10. 



Policemen, 159, 871. (See Group XI.) 
A procession, 159, 872 ; 167, 910. (See 

Group X.) 
Playing house, 159, S73 ; 160,874; 161, 

SS2; 167, 907; 172, 933; 174, 944; 

178, 956. (See Group IX.) 
Firemen, 160, 875; 164, 896. (See 

Group IX.) 
Prayer, 160, 876. 

Drawing stone for a house, 160, 877. 
A fort, 161, S78. (See Group XI.) 
A snake, 161, 879. 
A tame bear, 161, 880. 
A barber, 161, SSI ; 175, 948. 
Preparing for a party, 161, 882. 
An engine, 162, SS3. 
Shows, 162, SS4. (See Group XI.) 
A store, 162, 8S5 ; 162, 887 ; 176, 952. 

(See Group IX.) 
Playing the piano, 162, 886; 163, 889. 

(See Group IX.) 
A picnic, 163, SS8. 
A superior officer, 163, S90. 
Playing horse, 163, 891; 169,919; 174, 

941. (See Group X.) 
Sailing boats, 163, 892. 
" We won't get sunstruck," 164, 893. 
Swinging over a fence, 164, S94. 
Studying a spelling-lesson, 164, SOS. 
A croquet set, 164, 897. 



Playing school, 165, 898 ; 165, S99; 167, 

909; 170, 922; 172, 930; 173, 938. 

(See Group IX.) 
" Come to bed, said Sleepy-head," 165, 

900. 
Baby-carriages, 165, 901. 
A junk dealer. 166, 902. 
A funeral, 166, 903. (See Group X.) 
A congregation of spools, 166, 904. 
A snow house, 166, 905. 
A house for the kittens, 166, 906. 
Painting the house, 167, 908. 
Killing Indians, 168, 911. 
A milliner, 168, 912. (See Group X.) 
Boston Harbor, 168, 913. 
Pilgrim's Progress, 168, 914. 
Grooming horses, 168, 915. 
Sudden changes of personality, 169,916. 
Two families, 169, 917. 
An auctioneer, 169, 918. 
Taking another name, 169, 920. (See 

Group XI.) 
Indian warfare, 170, 921. 
Jumping rope, 170, 923. 
An attack by dogs, 171, 924. 
Going to Europe, 171, 925. 
Aconcert, 171, 926. (See Group IX.) 
Political feeling, 171, 927. 
A hotel, 171, 928. (See Group X.) 
Foxhunting, 172, 929. 



264 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Making a house, 172, 931. 

A manufactured man, 172, 932. 

Giving medicine, 172, 934. 

Doing what another does, 173, 935. (See 

Group X.) 
Singing the scale, 173, 936. 
Hoopskirts, 173, 937. (See Group IX.) 
A trapeze performer, 173, 939. 
Making out examples in arithmetic, 173, 

940. 
Reasons for a doll's hair coming off, 

174, 942. 
Airing clean clothes, 174, 943. 
A sick baby, 174, 944. 
Sending an order to New York, 175,945. 
A cat treated like a baby, 175, 946. 



An imaginary sister, 175, 947. 

A pretended pie, 175, 949. 

A bear kept out by a locked door, 175, 

950. 
A drum-major, 176, 951. 
Constructing a sewer, 177, 953. 
A bear, 177, 954. 
Making a joke, 177, 955. 
A telephone, 178, 957. (See Group IX.) 
The battle of Bunker Hill, 178, 958. 
A fire-alarm card, 178, 959. 
Dressing up when going to bed, 178,960. 
An exercise in arithmetic, 179, 961. 
" How's-dat-for-hi," 179, 962. 
Movements of the mouth when using 

scissors, 179, 963. 



GROUP IX. 



Ages between 10 and 11. 



A concert, 180, 904. (See Group X.) 

Naming an island, 180, 965. 

A wart, 180, 966. 

A preacher, 181, 967. 

Taking photographs, 181, 968. 

A band of music, 181, 969. 

On a railroad train, 181, 970. 

Making capes, 182, 971. 

" Jack the Slasher," 183, 972. 

A procession, 183, 973 ; 187, 991 ; 189, 

1002 ; 191, 1008 ; 191, 1009. (See Group 

X.) 
An elevator, 183, 974. 
Playing house, 183, 975 ; 192, 1014 ; 193, 

1018 ; 195, 1033. (See Group X.) 
Mrs. President Grant, 184, 976. 
Playing the piano, 184, 977 ; 196, 1036 ; 

198, 1044. 
Playing school, 184, 978 ; 188, 995 ; 192, 

1015; 197, 1038; 197, 1040; 199, 

1046. (See Group XI.) 
A stye on the eye, 185, 979. 
Gymnastics, 185, 980. 
A church service, 185, 981 ; 200, 1054. 
A telephone, 1S5, 982. 
Dogs led by a rope, 186, 983. 
Hens, 186, 984. 



A store, 1S6, 985; 186, 986; 190, 1007; 

198, 1042. (See Group XI.) 
Playing horse, 186, 987 ; 188, 993 ; 188, 

994 ; 188, 997 ; 193, 1017 ; 194, 1023 ; 

194, 1025 ; 200, 1051. (See GROUP X.) 
Eagles, 187, 9S8. 
An Indian lodge, 187, 989. 
Wearing spectacles, 187, 990. 
A procession of nuns, 187, 991. 
A street-car conductor, 188, 992. 
Firemen, 188, 996; 197, 1037. (See 

Group XI.) 
A doll's name suggests relationship, 

189, 998. 
Sickness accounts for ill looks, 189, 

999. 
Robbers, 189, 1000. 
Coasting on the Rocky Mountains, 189, 

1001. 
Hollow cheeks, 189, 1003. 
Rowing, 190, 1004. 
Hoopskirts, 190, 1005. 
Mothers discuss the dress of their chil- 
dren, 190, 1006. 
"Walking arm in arm, 191, 1009. 
A man with a mouth on one side, 191, 

1010. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



265 



Smoking, 191, 1011. 

A baptism, 191, 1012. (See Group X.) 

Dancing, 192, 1013. 

" The Three Bears," 192, 1016. 

Driving cattle, 193, 1019. 

Cutting a doll's hair, 194, 1020. 

" It's hard to keep the children quiet," 

194, 1021. 
Selling honey, 194, 1022. 
Managing a frightened horse, 194, 1023. 
Taking revenge, 194, 1024. 
Measuring furniture, 194, 1026. 
A city workman, 195, 1027. 
"Walking lame, 195, 1028 ; 198, 1043. 
A snow barn, 195, 1029. 
Prisoners' base with two players, 195, 

1030. 



After the flood, 195, 1031. 
Going to ring the bell, 195, 1032. 
Watching the old year out, 196, 1034. 
Keeping on a new dress, 196, 1035. 
Putting crape on the door, 197, 1039. 
Administering the Sacrament, 108, 1041. 
A man with a cork leg, 198, 1043. 
A draughtsman, 199, 1045. 
Teaching a cat to sing, 199, 1047. 
"Baby, you must keep those stockings 

on," 199, 1048. 
Disciplining a younger child, 199, 1049. 
A furnished house, 199, 1050 ; 200, 1053. 
A goat, 200, 1052. 
Clearing the sidewalk of snow, 200, 

1055. 
"To the Bay State Hotel," 201, 1050. 



GEO UP X. 

Ages between 11 and 12. 



A procession, 202, 1057 ; 203, 1060. (See 

Group XI.) 
Playing " bear," 202, 105S. 
Playing house, 202, 1059 ; 204, 1064 ; 205, 

1069; 208, 10S0 ; 210, 1086; 212, 

1097. (See Group XI.) 
A funeral, 203, 1061 ; 206, 1073 ; 209, 

1082. (See Group XI.) 
Tableaux, 203, 1062. 
Croquet-balls as dolls, 204, 1063. 
Marching, 204, 1065. 
Soldiers, 205, 1066. 
A concert, 205, 1067. 
The Salvation Army, 205, 1068. (See 

Group XI.) 
A hotel, 205, 1070. 
A prayer-meeting, 206, 1071. 
A baptism, 206, 1072. 
A culprit, 206, 1074. 
A circus, 206, 1075. (See Group XI.) 
French ladies, 207, 1076. 
Going round Cape Horn, 207, 1077. 
Doing what another does, 207,. 107S. 

(See Group XI.) 



A sensational show, 207, 1079. 

Building and furnishing a house, 208, 
1080. 

Captains shooting runaways, 208, 10S1. 

The Asbury twins, 209, 1083. 

Railroad lines, 209, 1084. 

Hatching chickens, 209, 1085. 

A milliner, 210, 1087. 

The Blue Necktie Association, 210, 1088. 

Teaching music, 211, 1089. 

Building a barn, 211, 1090. 

Holding up dress skirts, 211, 1091. 

A real-estate owner, 211, 1092. 

The L. S. I. C, 212, 1093. 

Sharpening a razor, 212, 1094. 

A cowboy, 212, 1095. 

Keeping time, 212, 1096. 

A mechanic, 213, 1098. 

Going to Boston to buy Christmas pres- 
ents, 213, 1099. 

Playing horse, 213, 1100. 

A stage-coach, 214, 1101. (See Group 
XI.) 



266 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



GROUP XL 



Ages between 12 and 16. 



A tent, 215, 1102. 

Bower houses, 215, 1103. 

Tailoresses, 216, 110-1. 

Playing school, 216, 1105; 226, 1147; 

228, 1155. 
A circus, 216, 1106. 
Playing house, 216, 1107; 227, 1154; 

230, 116S ; 238, 1195. 
Firemen, 217, 1108; 222, 1132; 224, 

1137. 
A Chinaman, 217, 1109. 
Lady Fashion, 217,1110. . 

Indians, 218, 1111. 
Birds, 218, 1112. 
A desire for a cough, 218, 1113. 
A torchlight procession, 218, 1114 ; 219, 

1120. 
A procession, 219, 1115 ; 220, 1122 ; 221, 

1127; 222, 1128; 225, 1141; 229, 

1163; 233, 1175; 240, 1202; 241, 

1205. 
Nuns, 219, 1116; 230, 1165. 
Walking on crutches, 219, 1117. 
A store, 219, 1118. 
Slaughtering pigs, 219, 1119. 
Making boats, 220, 1121. 
Marriage and confirmation, 220, 1123. 
A police court, 220, 1124 ; 238, 1194. 
The celebration of Columbus Day, 221, 

1125. 
A volcano, 221, 1126. 
Doing what another does, 222, 1129; 

222, 1131. 
Copying pictures, 222, 1130. 
Policemen, 223, 1133; 240, 1200. 
A funeral, 223, 1134. 
A partnership, 223, 1135. 
A skirmish, 224, 1136. 
A parachute, 224, 1138. 
Packing for a journey, 224, 1139. 
Biding horseback, 224, 1140. 
Spools for dolls, 225, 1142. 
" Four Girls at Chautauqua," 225, 1143. 
A snow fort, 225, 1144 ; 226, 1146. 
Kneading bread, 225, 1145. 



Jack-o'-lanterns, 226, 1148. 

Taking a dog to ride, 226, 1149. 

A seesaw, 226, 1150. 

Paying fare in the street-car, 227, 1151. 

Sewing by the window, 227, 1152. 

Shows, 227, 1153 ; 237, 1192. 

An entertainment, 228, 1156 ; 238, 1196. 

Selling photographs, 228, 1157. 

A Roman chariot-driver, 228, 1158. 

Saying what another says, 228, 1159. 

Initiation into the North End Club, 228, 

1160. 
A drum-major, 229, 1161. 
The Worcester Sporting Association, 

229, 1162. 
The Grand Army, 229, 1163. 
Ladies and their maid, 230, 1164. 
An electric car, 230, 1166. 
"Uncle Tom's Cabin," 230, 1167. 
Slaughtering animals, 231, 1169. 
A railroad train, 231, 1170. 
Paper dolls, 231, 1171. 
A bird supper, 232, 1172. 
On a journey, 232, 1173. 
A Sunday-school, 233, 1174. 
Concert singers with long hair, 233, 

1176. 
The Good-will club, 234, 1177. 
Skiing, 234, 1178. 
A reading-club, 234, 1179. 
A negro, 234, 1180. 
Serving tea, 234, 1181. 
False teeth, 234, 1182. 
An engine and the moon, 235, 1183. 
A menagerie, 235, 1184. 
At a bonfire, 235, 1185. 
Tobogganing, 235, 1186. 
Building stone houses, 236, 1187. 
A stage-coach, 236, 1188. 
A hospital, 236, 1189. 
What led to playing " Salvation Army," 

237, 1190. 
A humpbacked housekeeper, 237, 1191. 
A race-track, 237, 1193. 
A post-office, 238, 1197. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



267 



The Athletic Boat Cluh, 239, 1193. 

A village, 239, 1199. 

A farm, 240, 1201. 

Taking another name, 240, 1203. 



The uses of a barn, 240, 1204. 
A ventriloquist, 241, 1206. 
Fairyland, 242, 1207. 
Rubber-making, 250, 1208. 



SUMMARY. 

Group I. Ages between 1 and 3 pp. 1- 30 

II. Ages between 3 and 4 pp. 31- 54 

III. Ages between 4 and 5 pp. 55- 76 

IV. Ages between 5 and 6 pp. 77- 98 

V. Ages between 6 and 7 pp. 99-120 

VI. Ages between 7 and 8 pp. 121-138 

VII. Ages between 8 and 9 pp. 139-158 

VIII. Ages between 9 and 10 pp. 159-179 

IX. Ages between 10 and 11 pp. 180-201 

X. Ages between 11 and 12 pp. 202-214 

XI. Ages between 12 and 16 pp. 215-251 



